Israel is a democracy. Leaders are elected. Each citizen (male or female, Jewish or not Jewish) has a vote. Israeli Arabs can vote and have representatives in the Knessett. The Knessett has 120 members, all of whom were elected to office. When their terms expire, they leave office. Israel has a system of laws to which all citizens are accountable--including the leaders.

The Israeli Supreme Court is the highest law in the land and anyone--including Palestinian non-citizens---can file cases with Israeli courts and can win judgements.

Yes, Israel is a democracy. With the possible exception of Turkey, there is no other democracy in the mideast or in any Muslim country in the world. Israel does not need for outsiders to impose a new form of government on them.

If Arafat were under Israeli control, why would he be planning and funding attacks on Israeli citizens? Right now Arafat is fighting against Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade for control of Gaza.

As for the IDF shooting children. If you examine death stats you find that 57.7% of the Israeli deaths are youth age 15 or under. Among Palestinian deaths, only 11.7% of the deaths are youth aged 15 and under. If anyone is out to kill children, its the Palestinian terror groups.
the source for these stats is: www.us-israel.org/jsource/myths/mftoc.html, www.ict.org.il, www.idf.il