Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., February 21, 2008 Adar1 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 07:24 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 22:06 20/02/2008 Poll: 75% of young Israeli Arabs support voluntary national service By Haaretz Service Tags: Haifa University, Arab  Seventy-five percent of Israeli Arabs between the ages of 16 and 22 support voluntary national service, according to a poll released Wednesday. The poll, conducted by the dean of Haifa University's social sciences department, Professor Sammy Smooha, was carried out among 910 participants. The study also polled 78 public figures from the Israeli Arab community, dividing them into two groups ? those who are identified with the Jewish establishment, and those who are not. Smooha said the study shows that the government must launch a campaign challenging those Israeli Arab leaders who oppose the national service. Advertisement According to the poll, the vast majority of the Arab public is unaware of the national service, with 77.4 percent overall and 79.6 percent of youth saying they know little or nothing about the program. The lack of public awareness comes despite a vigorous campaign by Arab leaders against joining the national service as well as the service's recruitment efforts. The poll found that, once given basic information about conditions in the national service and its goals, not only Israeli Arab youth were supportive of the idea, but so were 71.9 percent of all Arab men and 83.8 percent of all Arab women. Support for the national service was also found to be high among supporters of Hadash (69.2 percent), Balad (77.6 percent), and other Arab political movements opposed to the project. 27.1 percent of Arab youth said they would volunteer even in the face of family members' opposition, while 35 percent said they would volunteer despite the opposition of town leaders. 42.2 percent said they would volunteer even if the majority of Israeli Arab leaders express their opposition. 68.1 percent of those who support the national service said they are in favor because it contributes to the country and Israeli society, while 89.7 percent said they support the project because it would lead to greater equality between Arabs and Jews. 74.5 percent said they are concerned that the national service will with time turn into compulsory military service in the Israel Defense Forces Bookmark to del.icio.us   Land of milk and honey Israeli model Bar Refaeli poses for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition. Finding fault Shas MK blames gays for recent earthquakes in the region.   1.   Why not non-military volunteer service? 22:38  |  Conroy 20/02/08   2.   of course arab leaders want to keep youth uninformed that`s how t 22:50  |  ralph 20/02/08   3.   many israeli arab leaders milk their constituents and provide not 22:51  |  ralph 20/02/08   4.   Great News 22:59  |  Slibovitz 20/02/08   5.   Conflicting numbers? 23:00  |  nunya 20/02/08   6.   When will Israel turn on the lights? 23:56  |  Danite 20/02/08   7.   Support Voluntary Service+Won`t Volunteer=Same old Traitors 00:56  |  Efox 21/02/08   8.   The problem of second class citizens 02:07  |  Mark Lincoln 21/02/08   9.   Arabs willing to do national service 02:18  |  ChanahS 21/02/08   10.   open the door wide, they`re waiting 02:47  |  denver steve 21/02/08   11.   clarification:re#1 03:28  |  denver steve 21/02/08   12.   Why would they want to serve a country that spits in their face? 03:55  |  peacelover 21/02/08   13.   Peace 04:42  |  Robin 21/02/08   14.   peacelover because they know reality not Arab proganda 06:33  |  PETER SM 21/02/08

Today Online Israel still building in settlements despite Olmert's promise Responses: 299 Abbas cool to aide's call for Kosovo-like statehood declaration Responses: 194 Amira Hass: Israel is stealing Palestinian land, private or not Responses: 164 Peace-minded residents of Gaza and Sderot share joint blog Responses: 53 Chelsea's Israeli soccer coach sent anti-Semitic death threat Responses: 33 Rosner's Domain What America wants from an operation in Gaza The only f word people should be afraid of is fanaticism Are Palestinians like Kosovars? (WTR) Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? The row over Obama's stance on Israel is a dispute between Jews More Headlines 05:32 Israel fears Europe will break boycott of Hamas 06:08 Report: U.K. gov't hid reference to Israel on Iraq weapons dossier 06:09 U.S. in quandary over helping victims of Palestinian terror, or the PA 06:10 ANALYSIS: The West Bank should be the next Kosovo 23:28 Russian-Israeli tycoon: Russian aliyah absorption unsuccessful 01:48 High Court hears plea against parole of Danny Katz's murderers 06:13 Education Ministry report shows increased sexual violence in schools 05:53 Green Party hopes to reach Knesset by running in local elections 06:20 High hopes for rain disappoint in the north 22:13 Palestinian woman poses as Israeli in order to undergo surgery Previous Editions Select Day 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb

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