In Israel, the British Mandate is not always remembered with affection, perhaps for good reason. After all, it was hardly a philanthropic regime, and it was, at times, callous.

However, despite the legitimate criticisms, if it weren’t for the Mandate, the state of Israel would not be celebrating its 70th birthday this year, and celebrating its evolution into a successful and prosperous nation.

Creating a democratic state from scratch is not an easy thing to do. In order to function, it needs an effective and legitimate system of elections. Then there must be a decision-making body that holds public confidence and a legally constituted, armed organization able to enforce those decisions.

Read the full article at Haaretz.