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Last update - 22:42 22/06/2008 Minister Ayalon: Israeli Arabs should have 'cultural independence' By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Ami Ayalon, Israel  Minister Ami Ayalon said on Sunday that Israeli Arabs should be granted "cultural independence." Addressing a conference in Haifa on Israeli Arabs and the peace process, organized by the Organization for the Advancement of Democracy in the Arab Sector in Israel and the Geneva Initiative, Ayalon said that "we should form a reality whereby an 'Israeli' [identity] exists, without overriding other identities." "The State of Israel should grant equality, cultural independence and a sense of belonging to the state," he said. Advertisement Ayalon is a minister without portfolio, who is in charge of the national civil service, a scheme which is intended to constitute an alternative to military service, mainly for the ultra-Orthodox and Israeli Arab sectors. According to Ayalon, Israeli Jews don't understand the identity dilemma of Israeli Arabs. "If an Arab citizen says he's primarily Arab or Muslim or Palestinian, and only then Israeli, Jews consider him as an existential threat or a fifth column," he said. Ayalon likened Israeli Arabs to "a limb, linking the Palestinian people to the State of Israel," and said that "it cannot be amputated. Israeli Arabs are part and parcel of the Jewish state and of the Palestinian people." Hadash chairman MK Mohammed Barakeh told the conference that the Arab public supports peace. "We are happy to be trodden upon as the bridge to peace, but get to the other side already," he said. He also said that the Arab public will not put up with being treated as a demographic threat. "We have not come here from nowhere, and we're not going anywhere. We won't tolerate being treated as a danger, threat or an illegitimate entity," Barakeh added. Related articles: Labor MK Ayalon to join cabinet as a minister without portfolio A law that must not pass Their willful and continued exclusion Bookmark to del.icio.us   Justice for Jews London summit focuses on plight of Jewish refugees from Arab states. No place like home Poll: 77% of Israeli Arabs would rather live in Israel than in any other country.   1.   Debunked 23:07  |  Motic 22/06/08   2.   Cultural Independence...No Way - Fire the minister!!! 23:32  |  Robert 22/06/08   3.   Response to 2 articles which have got me sighing too much of late 23:58  |  Indrani 22/06/08   4.   Same as previous 00:12  |  Indrani 23/06/08   5.   Same as previous 00:20  |  Indrani 23/06/08   6.   Ayalon 00:29  |  MR 23/06/08   7.   Same as previous 00:43  |  Indrani 23/06/08   8.   Same as previous 00:47  |  Indrani 23/06/08   9.   arabs need to try and integrate not break away from society 01:33  |  zionist forever 23/06/08   10.   Ani Ayalon is an enemy agent disguised as an MK. 01:55  |  Chaim 23/06/08   11.   # Indrani Have you heard of Kosovo? 02:45  |  Joy 23/06/08   12.   Israeli Arabs Should Have "Cultural Independence"? 03:16  |  Craftsman 23/06/08   13.   chaim 04:38  |  Magnus K. 23/06/08   14.   By American standards,.... 05:22  |  R 23/06/08   15.   Magnus K and R 06:32  |  Robert 23/06/08   16.   Idiot 06:41  |  Moshe 23/06/08   17.   Without defining `cultural independence` meaningless 07:07  |  Ilan 23/06/08   18.   R - re American Standards 07:10  |  KT 23/06/08   19.   The Israeli Arabs are ?Palestinians?. 08:17  |  Jean Van Daem 23/06/08   20.   Robert of Montreal 01:35  |  Magnus K. 24/06/08   21.   jean van daem 19 06:37  |  potobac 24/06/08

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