Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., March 12, 2009 Adar 16, 5769 | | Israel Time: 13:54 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
The lowest common denominator
By Avi Sagi and Yedidia Stern
Tags: Israel news, Israeli Arabs

The surprise of the elections is the party championing "No loyalty, no citizenship." One out of every eight voters (and if you discount the sectarian votes of the Arabs and the ultra-Orthodox, one out of six voters) reported for the Israeli loyalty roll call.

The new demand for loyalty is the natural continuation of our everyday, banal attitude toward the Arab minority. The Arabs are citizens, but to a limited extent. They face discrimination in the civilian realm, and they are excluded from the political arena and the Israeli experience as a whole. Yisrael Beiteinu's slogan did not change things. Rather, it bluntly articulated the facts of life in Israel.

The proposal to condition the Arabs' pseudo-citizenship on a declaration of loyalty runs contrary to the liberal-democratic discourse, which posits that even those who refuse to pay their debt to the state - for example, by not enlisting, not paying taxes, and not standing at attention during the national anthem - may keep their citizenship. We have not heard anyone demand that convicted murderers - not even the murderer of a prime minister - be stripped of their citizenship. An Israeli citizen who spies for the enemy - from Mordechai Vanunu to Udi Adiv and Yisrael Bar - remains an Israeli citizen in his jail cell. Citizenship is not a "payment" or a "punishment." It is the foundation, the cornerstone of the state's most basic covenant, which gives its laws validity.
Advertisement
It is clear that the Liebermanian sails were filled in part by the irresponsible hot air emanating from the extremist mouths of the Arab political leadership. Yet it is sad and frustrating to realize that mere words have kept many from seeing that the Arab minority is kith and kin to Israeli society. The Arab is the doctor who greets us at the entrance to the emergency room. He is the police officer who looks out for our personal security. He is the tracker who clears land mines while on patrol. Every person, Jew or Arab, has a name. Not just the name given by father, mother or deity, but a name given by the state - citizenship.

Minority status is the cornerstone of Jewish memory. In exile, we were victims of various loyalty tests - religious, civil, social and national. How is it that we have internalized our persecutors' norms?

The ethos of loyalty of Israel's Jewish society is not stable enough. We struggle with the question of the loyalty of ultra-Orthodox who do not serve in the army, of messianics who place religion above state, of migrants of convenience who do not share the Zionist ethos, of elites for whom the world is their home and Israel is just a temporary quarter. The preoccupation over the loyalty of Israeli Arabs is the psychological projection of an internal threat. The slogan linking citizenship with loyalty draws its potency from the widespread agreement on a lowest common denominator. The demonization of Arab citizens helps the Jewish citizens in their internal structuring of loyalty: Compared to the disloyal Arab, we all are loyal.

If Israeli Arabs do not believe in loyalty toward the state, that is not only regrettable but also must be remedied. All citizens must shoulder the burden in making the Israeli collective worthy of everyone's loyalty. This holds true for Arabs as well as the ultra-Orthodox, the post-Zionists and all the immigrants. This cannot be attained via a public loyalty roll call. As such, what is needed is an invitation for dialogue with the other.

Prof. Sagi teaches philosophy at Bar-Ilan University; Prof. Stern teaches law at Bar-Ilan.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Demjanjuk sentence
Former Nazi camp guard Demjanjuk charged 29,000 times.
The infamous scam
Why does Bernard Madoff evoke record-breaking resentment?
  1.   Op Ed is Partially right 07:02  |  Baruch Gold 10/03/09
  2.   the theory my friend is dry 09:03  |  Miron 10/03/09
  3.   JAKEOFF 09:07  |  JON 10/03/09
  4.   We can expect such sentimental drrivel from 09:37  |  Robert Haymond 10/03/09
  5.   loyalty 09:55  |  zoe 10/03/09
  6.   Typical 10:00  |  John 10/03/09
  7.   The lowest common denominator 10:11  |  Aharon 10/03/09
  8.   citizenship dialogue? 10:33  |  Yoshi 10/03/09
  9.   Loyalty tests? OK, test all joint US and Israeli citizens. 10:51  |  Michael 10/03/09
  10.   "No loyalty, no citizenship." No love no peace. 11:06  |  Simon 10/03/09
  11.   "loyalty" to "state",define if you can, i`ll explain 11:20  |  sam antiqlum 10/03/09
  12.   To a certain extent one can explain Israels position..... 11:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/03/09
  13.   LET THE SPIN BEGIN: racism against Arabs as old as Judiasm 11:53  |  Balo 10/03/09
  14.   Coerced loyalty is not loyalty, it is coercion 12:34  |  Natallie Durson 10/03/09
  15.   Amen 12:50  |  Davids 10/03/09
  16.   # 3 robert 12:53  |  Axel 10/03/09
  17.   Loyalty - a one way ticket ? 13:41  |  Ardi 10/03/09
  18.   Equal treatment under the law 13:58  |  Lisa 10/03/09
  19.   Why not disband the IDF, and have an army for all 14:30  |  Jens 10/03/09
  20.   But Professor, the reasons are clear 14:30  |  Yaakov Sullivan 10/03/09
  21.   Are those who claim to be Israeli 15:23  |  Chris Linthwaite 10/03/09
  22.   Petra...perfect reason for you to leave the US 15:46  |  Ibrahim 10/03/09
  23.   Republicanism 15:55  |  arik 10/03/09
  24.   #13 - with your logic... 16:19  |  jean 10/03/09
  25.   The loyalty would not be an issue 16:20  |  TOMY 10/03/09
  26.   the loyalty oath endangers us all 16:43  |  shalom 10/03/09
  27.   response to robert 16:46  |  shalom 10/03/09
  28.   Disloyal demand 17:08  |  Jan Elshout 10/03/09
  29.   loyalty oaths for new citizens are one thing 17:17  |  newageblues 10/03/09
  30.   Good op-ed piece, but now we need action 17:37  |  Michael Klein 10/03/09
  31.   Many Valid Points, Several Flaws, Taxes 17:59  |  Eli 10/03/09
  32.   You cannot command loyalty, 18:51  |  r cummings 10/03/09
  33.   Based on a simplification 19:06  |  Ilan 10/03/09
  34.   Disrespecting non-Jewish Israeli`s is the natural result 19:12  |  binny 10/03/09
  35.   ibrahim #22 good idea,why don`t you go back to the middle east 19:23  |  one way ticket 10/03/09
  36.   Did German Jews take loyalty oaths for Hitler? 19:26  |  Mo 10/03/09
  37.   Reply to TOMY 19:59  |  Stephan 10/03/09
  38.   old and new citizens 20:17  |  arik 10/03/09
  39.   Response to Mr. Gold 20:31  |  Lynna 10/03/09
  40.   A great flaw in Liberal thought 20:35  |  Forrest Schmidt 10/03/09
  41.   Baruch Gold # 1 yes you are right deport them from America too 20:45  |  American in NY 10/03/09
  42.   To Binny, If that is true, Then... 21:25  |  Eli 10/03/09
  43.   Who said Arabs? 9th try 21:36  |  Sceptic 10/03/09
  44.   # 38 forrest 21:36  |  Axel 10/03/09
  45.   #37 and #39 You Are Dishonest 21:50  |  Baruch Gold 10/03/09
  46.   #37 Stephan , Those Arabs you refer to 02:34  |  TOMY 11/03/09
  47.   baruch Gold : a questiojn for you 02:42  |  American in NY 11/03/09
  48.   American in NY, America has a similar problem. 03:16  |  Bruce 11/03/09
  49.   Dozens of Arab State Aren`t Enough 03:28  |  UsedToPostHere 11/03/09
  50.   re: Mo 03:33  |  UsedToPostHere 11/03/09
  51.   re: Sceptic 03:38  |  UsedToPostHere 11/03/09
  52.   re: Ibrahim 03:41  |  UsedToPostHere 11/03/09
  53.   lowest common denominator 04:39  |  michael rosenbaum 11/03/09
  54.   lowest common denominator 04:42  |  michael rosenbaum 11/03/09
  55.   Response to Stephan 05:15  |  Laure 11/03/09
  56.   #3 Not true..sounds good, but it`s not all true.. 05:55  |  Edithann 11/03/09
  57.   Eli - To some extent I agree with you 06:07  |  binny 11/03/09
 Read & React
Clinton: U.S. Gaza aid tied to recognition of Israel
Responses: 57
Gideon Levy: Everyone agrees the war in Gaza was a failure
Responses: 71
Ari Shavit: Netanyahu has what it takes to meet Israel's challenges
Responses: 10
Tom Segev: How many Nazi criminals did Germany punish in 60 years?
Responses: 6


More Headlines
13:43 Pope: Vatican erred over bishop who denied Holocaust
03:25 Clinton: U.S. Gaza aid tied to recognition of Israel
09:51 Gates: U.S. to be highly cautious in launching pre-emptive strike
13:32 Livni: Israel still a long way from achieving gender equality
12:02 Katsav accuser: 'He tried to take down my pants, there was a struggle'
13:27 Israeli wins French prize for book questioning origins of Jewish people
13:02 Lawyer: Iraqi journalist jailed for 3 years for hurling shoes at Bush
03:57 How Demjanjuk escaped justice in Israel
10:13 Australia threatens to quit Durban 2 anti-racism meet
11:53 Holocaust survivor couple brutally robbed, beaten in Afula home
05:32 Gideon Levy / Everyone agrees: War in Gaza was a failure
11:36 Israel's first New Zealand film festival kicks off this week
10:09 U.S. official slams Israel 'lobby' after withdrawing from post
12:47 Iran tries to boost influence in South America by investing millions
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
Dead Sea Skin Care
Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
Summer in Israel
Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
Passover Vacations
The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida
Camp Kimama Israel 2009
The best place for your children this summer
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved