Druze, Circassian forum: Israel should remain a Jewish state

Druze will never forget Jamal Basha and Mohammed ali Basha and will never forgave the peopole who killed Prince Fakher Eddine,You are the most totalismic stupied beleivers ever brought to this world ,we are the oldest beleivers in the mighty god even before thousands of years this pure lands were the lands of the first beleivers and those people whom are claiming the lands,this land is not their lands and they are the people of the sea ,,,and if they claim that they are the followers of islam ( 1500 years only ) but the druze ( jacub ) is thousands of years before (this land was clean and pure untill these fanatic islamic stupied liers arrived ,they must understand that the grand suns of sayyadna ibrahime are the real supporters of our beloved country ,,,we pay blood for our state to help our brothers to come back since we are untill these days suffering from our loneliness in our country and our brothers were suffering all over the world (you must understand that the end of the world

If you won't live with Palestinians, than how can you logically expect American Christians to live with Jews? I'm saying that these things should'nt matter

Israel was founded as a Jewish state, and has a Jewish majority of voters. The minority in any Democracy can't demand that the majority cedes the position. If you're really concerned about minority status, then by all means cross over to the nearest Arab entity, they'll certainly have a majority of arabs.

For once, I agree with you, violence is not an acceptable form of political expression though at times it may be justified as an act of desperation. However, not all Palestinians in the territories and Israel are committed to "terrorism," many of them participate in organizations such as Adalah and Miftah, and have taken to civil disobedience. But how powerful is the vote of a community that is deliberately kept in minority status? I don't want to hear another word about the conservative Arab monarchies, they don't rationalize or justify Israel's domestic behavior, and they certainly don't explain why its normalized relations with the so called 'moderate' states. The only thing we get from your finger pointing is that progressive Israel is no better than a conservative, theocratic regime.

Democracy doesn't mean that you have the right to blow up people you disagree with. Anyone that doesn't care for the way Israel is run by it's Jewish majorityf, has the right to seek the nearest exit point and travel to an Arab Democracy, if such an animal actually exists. Majority rules, change it voting, not destroying everything you disagree with. The Arabs leaders broke the promises they had made, of Conquest and Loot.

The basic premise of democracy is peoples rule, and this as we know it today necessarily involves inclusion, empowerment, and equality. None of these things apply in a state where the privileges of some are prioritized over the rights of others, to use Ben-Habib's phrase. All of this fluff about Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan--these are just ways in which Zionist propaganda begs the question of its own political vision. You can't be an ethnocracy and a democracy at the same time. And while other settler-colonial movements in America and Australia committed the same kind of genocide and mass-dispossession, they do not have explicitly racially defined citizenship norms and therefore they are in theory democratic and inclusive. If Israel turns its back on diversity and multi-culturalism, than it betrays the progressive values the Yishuv claimed to have brought to the Levant. But then again, for the Palestinians the promised land seems to be the land of broken promises.

I think you left a few things out. I'm enclosing them for your reference............Introduction Depicting Jews ? and sometimes also Zionists ? as "the descendants of apes and pigs" is extremely widespread today in public discourse in the Arab and Islamic worlds. For example, in a weekly sermon in April 2002, Al-Azhar Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, the highest-ranking cleric in the Sunni Muslim world, called the Jews "the enemies of Allah, descendants of apes and pigs."[1] In one of his sermons, Saudi sheikh Abd Al-Rahman Al-Sudayyis, imam and preacher at the Al-Haraam mosque ? the most important mosque in Mecca ? beseeched Allah to annihilate the Jews. He also urged the Arabs to give up peace initiatives with them because they are "the scum of the human race, the rats of the world, the violators of pacts and agreements, the murderers of the prophets, and the offspring of apes and pigs."[2] "Read history," called Al-Sudayyis in another sermon, "and you will understand that the Jews of yesterday are the evil fathers of the Jews of today, who are evil offspring, infidels, distorters of [others'] words, calf-worshippers, prophet-murderers, prophecy-deniers... the scum of the human race 'whom Allah cursed and turned into apes and pigs...' These are the Jews, an ongoing continuum of deceit, obstinacy, licentiousness, evil, and corruption..."[3] In a sermon at the Said Al-Jandoul mosque in Al-Taif, Saudi sheikh Ba'd bin Abdallah Al-Ajameh Al-Ghamidi explained that "the qualities of the Jews" were present at all times and in all places: "The current behavior of the brothers of apes and pigs, their treachery, violation of agreements, and defiling of holy places... is connected with the deeds of their forefathers during the early period of Islam ? which proves the great similarity between all the Jews living today and the Jews who lived at the dawn of Islam."[4] In an August 2001 sermon, Sheikh Ibrahim Madhi, Palestinian Authority official and imam of the Sheikh Ijlin mosque, Gaza City's main mosque, called on the Palestinian people to forget their internal disagreements and turn all weapons against Jews: "lances must be directed at the Jews, the enemies of Allah, the nation accursed in Allah's book. Allah described [them] as apes and pigs, calf-worshipers, idol-worshippers..."[5] Seeing Jews as "descendants of apes and pigs" is common also in Shi'ite Islam. Such statements appear, for instance, in a 1998 speech by Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on the occasion of the Shi'ite 'Ashoura holiday. Nasrallah regretted that the holiday fell "on the 50th anniversary of the bitter and distressing historical catastrophe of the establishment of the state of the grandsons of apes and pigs ? the Zionist Jews ? on the land of Palestine and Jerusalem." He closed his speech with these words: "... We reaffirm the slogan of the struggle against the Great Satan and call, like last year: 'Death to America. To the murderers of the prophets, the grandsons of apes and pigs,' we say: ... 'Death to Israel...'"[6]

No39 lool at the last verse... [17:0] In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful [17:1] Most glorified is the One who summoned His servant (Muhammad) during the night, from the Sacred Masjid (of Mecca) to the farthest place of prostration, whose surroundings we have blessed, in order to show him some of our signs. He is the Hearer, the Seer. [17:2] Similarly, we gave Moses the scripture, and rendered it a beacon for the Children of Israel that: "You shall not set up any idol as a lord and master beside Me." [17:3] They are descendants of those whom we carried with Noah; he was an appreciative servant. [17:4] We addressed the Children of Israel in the scripture: "You will commit gross evil on earth, twice. You are destined to fall into great heights of arrogance. [17:5] "When the first time comes to pass, we will send against you servants of ours who possess great might, and they will invade your homes. This is a prophecy that must come to pass. [17:6] "Afterwards, we will give you a turn over them, and will supply you with a lot of wealth and children; we will give you the upper hand. [17:7] "If you work righteousness, you work righteousness for your own good, but if you commit evil you do so to your own detriment. Thus, when the second time comes to pass, they will defeat you and enter the masjid, just as they did the first time. They will wipe out all the gains you had accomplished."

I seem to recall that the blowing up your subway system was perpetrated by your very own home grown Muslim's. British authorities are in deadly fear of the next act of terror that's brewing. Arabs in Gaza/West bank have long since proven that they can't and musn't be trusted. They really have no reason to attempt entry into Israel, other than terror acts. Their gainful employment has vanished, given to non-hostile foreigners who are more than content to work for a good wage, without thought of killing and maiming the residents of their host country. As in a bad marriage, separation is good for the soul and peace of mind.

I don't mean to be condescending, but are any of you aware that the overwhelming majority of these authoritarian and discriminatory Arab regimes are not only American satellites, but indearingly referred to by the Zionist leadership as "moderate states." Obviously Israelis feel threatened by Palestinians, without exterminating them entirely, Zionism can never fully realize itself as the return of "landless people to people-less land." But few people see the ideological threat Palestinians pose to surrounding Arab regimes. Palestinian republicanism, parliamentary ethics, and pluralism--mainly envisioned by exiled academics such as Habash and Said, are a greater danger to the Jordanian and Saudi monarchies than Israel ever was. Perhaps, this is why Lebanese and Jordanian policy has been so keen on isolating and destroying refugee communities. Israeli idealism, if it indeed exists, has more in common with its arch-nemesis than its regional allies' do.

Many of you have chosen two paths to justify Israeli ethnocentricism; you either reaffirm the pariah-status of the Israeli Jew, that is the existential threat to his diasporic community, or you cite the Jabitinskian myth about the 22 Arab-Muslim countries. The problem with the former is that for it to properly justify the treatment of the Palestinians and qualify as a citizenship norm every sub-national community in the world should be purged from its host community and given a state. Clearly this is neither possible, nor morally acceptable, and yet it is the implicit conclusion of what you are saying. In regards to the "22 Arab countries," the so called West is predominantly white and Christian (more than 22 countries) would anyone see it as acceptable to say: "Sorry Poland, but there are Slavic catholics in Austria, you guys better take a hike" Absolutely not. I'm telling all of you, there is a better way than looking into the Abyss of "Nation-state."

You guys are putting words in my mouth, and many of you don't seem to have a clear command of history. Firstly, theocracy and race-based nationalism is unacceptable anywhere; I have as little tolerance for an exclusively Muslim or Arabist state as I do for a Jewish one. Furthermore, this policy of looking the other way, of saying "well what about Saudi Arabia and Iran?" is an ineffective excuse. The reason the Druze defend the Israeli ethnocracy is because they are granted certain privileges (potential army service) to disrupt Arab solidarity. When Haganah forces--by means of violence and intimidation--reduced the Palestinian majority of the mandate to a fifth its original size, they did not just commit an offense to Arabs and Muslims. They committed a crime against humanity that implicitly justifies the violent dissolution of all sub-national communities: Palestinians, Serbian Muslims, Jews, hell--even left handed people. All I want is a more inclusive Israel.

Surely, you must have read this week where two Israeli Arabs were sentenced to prison, they were caught with explosives they had intended to use in a major disaster. Now, that's what you can call "Loyalty", to death & destruction.

Actually, a state belongs to all its citizens or it isn't a democratic state. Period. The Arab model of a constitution actually modernizes Israel by moving it toward a normal nation-state in which citizenship is determined not by ethnicity or religion but on the basis of residency. This is a good thing for Israel, not a bad thing. Ethnic cleansers and racists don't like states to modernize, but history isn't on their side. I don't believe in Islamic, Jewish, or Christian states. It's not a good idea, period.

Our Druze and Circassian brothers have shown clearly that it is the Arabs who have brought animosity upon themselves spitting in the face of the Jews at every oportunity. It is obvious that this does not fit with the supposed "liberal" agenda of "Zionism is racism" and the like. You can see here their reations, or lack thereof.

I've just read where Absolute is selling out to another firm. Druze, as I understand, have allegiance to any country they reside in. As an example, Syrian, Lebanese & Israeli Druze have verbal contact across their respective fences on a religious basis, keeping their politics separate and distinct. They're small minorities and don't want to jeapordize their postion. I believe they also serve in the IDF.

"Isreal should remain Jewish" and all other ehnic and relegious groups like Christians, Moslems and others are second and third rate citizens. Hmmmm real democracy!!!!!

the chairperson of the forum wants the state to stay as is, jewish, and all other ethnic and relegious groups are second and third class citizens, yet the chairperson bigs to be treated better. Hummmmmmmmmmm.

If you are so critical of the Jewish state, its democracy, and its nationalism, why aren't you as reproachful of the far more violent and dangerous nationalist NON-democracies in the rest of the Middle East? I fail to see how people like Gamel Abdel Nasser, Ayatollah Khomeini, and Mahmoud Ahmedinajad can be considered valiant in their nationalistic efforts where as David Ben-Gurion, Yitzchak Rabin, and Golda Meir are not. Both societies have developed and exhibited a form of nationalism, Zionism prompted by pogroms and the Holocaust, and Arab nationalism prompted by the mishaps of colonialism. Ultimately, though, Zionism has proved to be a much more inclusive, progressive, and idealized in the ultimate goal of peace. So, if you still wish, continue on your crusade to end nationalism. But don't stop with Zionism. TAKE ON THE REST OF THE MUSLIM WORLD!!! Oh, but wait, you probably have a double standard when it comes Egypt, Iran, and Libya.

Alejandro SAID IT RIGHT . WE ARE COMING TO THE DAYS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO WIPE OUT ALL TH PAL'S AS GOD COMMANDED IN THE BIBLE ON OCCATIONS!

No. It's Arabs this Arabs that. Palestinians this Palestinians that. Occupation shmoccupation, and never anything about the non-Arab minorities in the country that stood by Israel through thick and thin. They should build a Circassian Museum in the heart of Tel Aviv.

THE DRUSE CAN NOT FORGET THEIR PEOPLE BEING PERSECUTED AND SLAUGHTERED BY THE SYRIA WHICH WAS THEIR HOMELAND FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME! ONLY THE STATE OF ISRAEL HAS TREATED THE DRUSE BETTER THAN THE REST OF THE ARAB WORLD! THE DRUSE HATE THE SYRIANS WITH A PASSION!

Israel's current "Constitution" is much closer to democratic than one proposed by Adalah, which institutionalizes ethnic rivalry in various dangereous and completely anti-democratic ways. The Constitution should just say all citizens must be treated equally before the law, including with respect to legal rights, distribution of funds, benefits, and ability to own land.

Only the loyal citizens of the State of Israel like this Druze leader have the right to remain in the Jewish State (compare and contrast to the traitorous members of Knesset that travel to Syria and Lebanon to meet sworn enemies of the Jews). This Druze leader is saying what's on his mind, he's not being pressured or threatened into making this statement. These are the people I respect and the blood and sweat they've shed for the Jewish State won't be forgotten.

"Muslims account for only 20% of all Arabs" As I understand it, there are 400 million Arabs in the world. There are 1 billion Muslims. If only 20% of the Arabs are Muslim, that's 80 million Arab Muslims. I don't think there are only 80 million Arabs who consider themselves Muslim. I don't think there are 320 million Arabs who consider themselves to be non-Muslim. I think, what you meant was more like: of all the worlds Muslims, only 40% or so are Arabs. The country in the world with the most Muslims is Indonesia. The inhabitants of Pakistan would be considered Muslims but not Arabs. Iran is populated by Persian Muslims. I'm not sure if the figure of 400 million Arabs included Iranians. It shouldn't, but I don't remember where I originally got that figure. I do agree that some Arabs are non-Muslims and that, therefore, one cannot assume that "Arab support" is "Muslim support". But your "only 20%" figure is way off.

Thank heaven for these wonderful people and brave citizens of Israel. Just a reminder to all the haters - there are still sane people in the Middle East. Take an example of co-existence at its very best.

"This is a blood pact, and a pact of the living. We are unwilling to support a substantial alteration to the nature of this state, to which we tied our destinies prior to its establishment," he said. What powerful and profound words. G-d Bless you and yours, Sir. Your passionat words bring a tear of effection and brotherhood to my Jewish eyes.

I think that is point of this "ruling". Adin is a good man who just wants life to be better with the lot he was given .. if only we were all so wise!

The phenomenon to re-europeanize Europe is allready existing, very silently though. European leaders woke up, that the moslim newcomers even after three generations are not integrated to the sociaty. Yet in Britain many of those live on social aid, send their children to learn with imams teach them extremist thoughts of religion. Europe wakes up on a situation wich needs to be deal with up to date, protecting its cultural existence and secular lifstyle. In Israel that situation exisits from day 1. I could say it`s not only our fault. This sociaty has adjusted to very spesific situations. This sistem serves the best in the region of all its citizens interests. And it could be better For Christians, Druze, Moslims, and Jews as well.

The druze are pure evil and underhanded, at least with the arabs you know where they're coming from, but the druze want to be jewish without a single drop of israeli blood running in their veins. they want power and recognition and then they will lead a revolution.

God bless these Druze and Circassians. I live in the Galil and know many Druzim. They are wonderful people who appreciate that they are living in a country that allows them sech freedoms - of religion especially.

These people protect their home country from the Palestinian chaos, witch easyly could take away their small confidence. At least they have a chance to survive after the fight. Some Palestinian parents send their children to die for sure. That you call an option. Now there is a bit of sence what democracy means. What a pity that for Hamas to destroy Israel is more important then the Palestinian poulation`s well being and security. Hamas `s public support is a bigger joke then anything else in the world. Yet nobody understands it, and that`s even a bigger problem.But it`s not only ours for sure.

proposal in France.

Of course, there is great sympathy in Israel toward the Kurdish struggle for self determination. And the example of Iraqi Kurdistan is encouraging: this de-facto state is the second democracy in the Middle East, the real one. But there is realpolitik. Israel doesn't want to mess up with Turkey.

Israeli's are awating the opportunity to vote in the Jordanian Parliament. Jordan is the home of the Palestinian's.

We Jews have not many friends in the world. But it's specially important, that many Israelis, who are not Jews, are our real brothers and friends. These are Druze, Chircassians, many Bedouines, many Christians and I am sure, many Muslim Arabs, too, though they are less vociferous, than Raed Salah or Adallah guys. As for Adallah vision of "multiculturalism" -- in 100 years, the Middle East will be peaceful, prosperous and the borders here will disappear, as in Europe of today. This is real multiculturalism, which doesn't infringe rights of others. It must be understood, that the attempts of Adallah and their kind is the struggle of the large imperial nation against self determination of the small nation.

The Christian and Druze minority right in the beginning of all knew they better tye their faith to the Jewish state, then to their so called Muslim-Arab brothers. They view them real trators `cos they worship All*h on a `wrong` way. I agree that Israel is not like Canada, BUT let`s put it to proportion: This is the Middle -East where Israel is the only democratic country, where minorities have the most freedom/ We Israelis should care about that freedom, and there are things should be improved. And again in a troubled region is still better for all of us then in Lebanon. I think Christian and Druze leaders do their best if we look at teh options around thjis country. And didn`t you think, that they might love this country as their natural home land and democratic state????

I did not even know what a druze was until I was in Israel in November of 2005. What a wonderful man that rode on our bus and protected us. His warm smile and gentle disposition belied the seriousness in which he protected us from any harm. That is why no one should criticize Israel nor the Arabs until they visit and learn first hand that not all the answers are simple and do not involve hatred.

I would like an answer as to why they do not accept Israel..surely both have claims to the land, but why not work out a 2 state solution where all can live in peace and prosper....all it takes is the first step.

USA is not multicultural or bilingual. There is one official language, American English, one goverment provided edication for all. However, you can speak and practice everything you wish, just like in Israel.

As if the Arabs and Muslems don't have enough of their own land. Perhaps if Israel was given over to the Arabs, it too could be a bright star of civilization in medicine, education, rights for women, freedom of speach, and above all CULTURAL TOLERANCE. Arab countries, with all of their money and oil are still sandboxes left open to cats. Why would Israel open itself to what it was pre '48.

You moron! The US has not accepted any official move to being bilingual. In fact, there is an ammendment being put forth to declare English as our National language!

In 1999 (my first elections as israeli citizen), I voted Barak and I was frustrated when i saw Arafat moving to terror. While working as a pharmacist in downtown Jerusalem I saw how Arab terror destroyed everything. Then, I voted Avigdor Lieberman. Even this was not enough. The Israeli Arabs do not understand. Someday, a Jewish majority will be so pissed off that will go and voted Meir Kahane's followers or even if they are banned we/I/all will vote the rightest party we can find and that day you will be in a real trouble. You won't be able to have even rights and you will be in trouble. WE are not going to let you destroy our place. WE'll try democratic ways and agreements but if that doesn't work, you will be in real trouble.

ethnocracy? My dear Mr. Ibn Filastin, name one, just one, mind you, one nation in the Eastern Hemisphere, whose native population does NOT make up the overwhelming majority of its citizenry!, including Germany, your reference. Furthermore, Israel has never engaged in neither ethnic cleansing nor race-based-nationalism since Jews themselves have hailed from every one of the four corners of the world.

Really i don't care about them, the more thwey interfer in our case the more things get worse.

I haven't noticed any Israel Arabs waiting in line to leavve either. It's funny to see all those people telling those who live here how bad they have it here, when not one of them would dream of packing up and moving to any one of the neighboring countires to live amongst their 'brother' (yeah, right).

We don't want to be another Arab country. There are already 22 of those and if you want you can go and be unexceptional in any one of those. By the way, according to your definition, they are all 'exceptional" countries that do not allow Jews to live there, and some don't allow Christians too. So stop being smart, or start being smart, and go and find a country that suits your requirements better.

You apparently are of the philosophy that if 20 squatters moved into your house, they now own it. if you were a US citizen, most likely you will vote for the illegal aliens crossing the border and then they will slit your throat. You must be related to the genial Nazi kurt waldheim. the only way he can make it to the US , is through the Mexican border, illegally.

Israel is a multilingual state. Its official languages are Hebrew and Arabic, and most official documents are also in English and Russian, and Amharic. You walk in the streets and hear all these languages as well as Spanish and French. There are local radio stations and newspapers in all these languages and when you call a government office you can get information in 4 of them. The population of Israel comprises people from a myriad of countries and cultures, and evryone celebrates their own festivals and holidays. So what are you talking about?

They did side with the right against might. The right of the Jewish people against the mighty Islamofacists.

And what about Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.? Have you a problem with their "ethnocracy"?

clearly you are wrong about Israel: 1. Druze (non-Jews) feel connected to the national identity of Israel according to this article 2. although Jews may be the majority nation in Israel, all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity or religion have equal rights 3. anybody can become a citizen of israel regardless of race, ethnicity or religion if they apply or get married to an Israeli 4. the idea of a jewish state means that its a state representing the Jewish people as a nation reflecting their culture......the same way England represents the British people as a nation, or India the indian people.....Why are the people of India able to have a state that represents their ethnicity and culture, but according to you the Jews aren't? In contrast, take a look at some of Israel's neighbors: 1. Saudi Arabia: non-Muslims cannot own land 2. Jordan: it is illegal for any Jewish person to become a citizen. why? because he is Jewish.

clearly you are wrong about Israel: 1. Druze (non-Jews) feel connected to the national identity of Israel according to this article 2. although Jews may be the majority nation in Israel, all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity or religion have equal rights 3. anybody can become a citizen of israel regardless of race, ethnicity or religion if they apply or get married to an Israeli 4. the idea of a jewish state means that its a state representing the Jewish people as a nation reflecting their culture......the same way England represents the British people as a nation, or India the indian people.....Why are the people of India able to have a state that represents their ethnicity and culture, but according to you the Jews aren't? In contrast, take a look at some of Israel's neighbors: 1. Saudi Arabia: non-Muslims cannot own land 2. Jordan: it is illegal for any Jewish person to become a citizen. why? because he is Jewish.

clearly you are wrong about Israel: 1. Druze (non-Jews) feel connected to the national identity of Israel according to this article 2. although Jews may be the majority nation in Israel, all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity or religion have equal rights 3. anybody can become a citizen of israel regardless of race, ethnicity or religion if they apply or get married to an Israeli 4. the idea of a jewish state means that its a state representing the Jewish people as a nation reflecting their culture......the same way England represents the British people as a nation, or India the indian people.....Why are the people of India able to have a state that represents their ethnicity and culture, but according to you the Jews aren't? In contrast, take a look at some of Israel's neighbors: 1. Saudi Arabia: non-Muslims cannot own land 2. Jordan: it is illegal for any Jewish person to become a citizen. why? because he is Jewish.

clearly you are wrong about Israel: 1. Druze (non-Jews) feel connected to the national identity of Israel according to this article 2. although Jews may be the majority nation in Israel, all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity or religion have equal rights 3. anybody can become a citizen of israel regardless of race, ethnicity or religion if they apply or get married to an Israeli 4. the idea of a jewish state means that its a state representing the Jewish people as a nation reflecting their culture......the same way England represents the British people as a nation, or India the indian people.....Why are the people of India able to have a state that represents their ethnicity and culture, but according to you the Jews aren't? In contrast, take a look at some of Israel's neighbors: 1. Saudi Arabia: non-Muslims cannot own land 2. Jordan: it is illegal for any Jewish person to become a citizen. why? because he is Jewish.

clearly you are wrong about Israel: 1. Druze (non-Jews) feel connected to the national identity of Israel according to this article 2. although Jews may be the majority nation in Israel, all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity or religion have equal rights 3. anybody can become a citizen of israel regardless of race, ethnicity or religion if they apply or get married to an Israeli 4. the idea of a jewish state means that its a state representing the Jewish people as a nation reflecting their culture......the same way England represents the British people as a nation, or India the indian people.....Why are the people of India able to have a state that represents their ethnicity and culture, but according to you the Jews aren't? In contrast, take a look at some of Israel's neighbors: 1. Saudi Arabia: non-Muslims cannot own land 2. Jordan: it is illegal for any Jewish person to become a citizen. why? because he is Jewish.

The fact that these groups are kaafirs (non-Muslims) is something concerning which there is no dispute among the Muslims...they are misguided kaafirs and it is not permissible to eat their food, their women may be taken captive and their wealth may be confiscated. They are heretics and apostates whose repentance cannot be accepted, rather they should be killed wherever they are found, and they may be cursed because of what they are. It is not permissible to employ them as guards and gatekeepers. Their scholars and leaders must be killed, lest they lead others astray. It is haraam to sleep with them in their houses or to be friends with them, or to walk with them or to attend their funerals, if their death is announced. It is haraam for the Muslim authorities to neglect to carry out the hadd punishment that Allaah has enjoined by whatever means they see fit... http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=26139&dgn=3 Nuf said.

Way to go Druze and Circassians!

The EU is fully aware of the Kurd-situation in all of the ME-region. As for Turkey: one of the reasons, why Turkey has not yet been accepted as a member in the Union, is her treatment of the minorities in Turkey. I hope that the Kurds would take a moral highground and not turn into terrorists; last year one of the terror-attacks in Turkey (Alanya) was caused by a Kurd, sorry to tell you that. Terrorism makes things worse NOT better! The EU is pressuring Turkey to apply democracy and equality to minorities, else she will never become a member in the EU, which is a necessity to her economy. You the Kurds have hereby hope!

choice. i am sure we can raise the funds to buy them out.

There are Persians, Kurds, Druze, Chrstian, Jewish, Bedouins, and many many others that fall under the catagory of having Arab nationality. So when one says "Arabs support Israel" it doesnt 100% mean that they are Muslim.

Israel has no right to be fully Jewish or fully Arab. Israel belongs to Palestinians as much as to Jews. In fact, 99% of Israeli Jews are imports from outside while nearly 100% of the Arabs are natives.

The Druze and Circassians should know better, this is reprehensible that they're turning on another minority group to better themselves. Nobody should feel proud of picking on weak minorities anywhere. The Palestinians of '48 have been in that land for at least many centuries, they deserve better treatment.

statement. It reflects reality, and it reflects the recognition that it is OK to be a minority in a nation-state, to contribute to it and benefit from the rights in it afforded all citizens.

answer of the Circassian and Druze to their Arab " brothers " is to go find a lake and go for a swim. And don't forget to dip the multi cultural constitution while doing the back stroke.

He does not represent anyone. He only speaks for himself and does not represent Druze or Circassians. He is the Uncle Tom of the Arabs in Israel who is forever sucking up to his masters. No one should take him seriously

There are many, since it's quoted in the Koran that Jews WILL return to the area, build a State, and none shall reject them. (Sura 17:7, Sura 17:104) www.arabsforisrael.com

During the beginning the latest Intifada in 2000, Pals sent representatives - Israeli Arabs - to the leaders of other Israeli Arab cities asking them to join in the aggression against Israel, from within. Some complied, and still do, such as Umm Al-Faqm and parts of Nazareth. One that did not was a city on the coast, near Hadera, which are Sudanese Arabs brought by the Ottomans (as they did with many cultures) to the Sultanate of Palestine near the 1900s. They politely told Arafat and his internal henchmen to go pound sand. They are peaceful with Israel and no one bothers them. They usually welcome their Jewish counterparts when they pass through on weekend trips to see the beaches and the Roman Aquaduct nearby.

I marvel at the thought process of such as you. Do you really believe Israel will dissolve their tiny state become you come here and scream at them?? When Israel planned to put a muslim town into Palestinioan territory if ever there is a political solution, all of the residents squealed their objection. Why did they want to remain Israelis' and not become part of Palestine?

I totally agree with you. To all that calim Israel is the only country occupying another one I often reply about Kurdistan being occupied by Turkey, Syria, Irak and Iran. Your people live a huge injustice and I hope soon we will see an independant Kurdistan that might very well be the only democratic muslim state with a separation of mosque and state.

Mainline Islam today teaches that they have the inherent right to conquer the world and subject all minorities to inferior dhimmi status. They call anyone who defends himself and stands for his minority rights, such as Jews, Druze, and Christians "Islamophobes" or "war criminals". This is what Riccardo in post no. 2 is saying. The Muslims control almost the whole Middle East, yet he views them as the "weak" party, not the minorities who are truly under threat. Look at the status of all religious minorities in the Middle East...they are all under pressure and the Christians are in active decline. All non-Muslims are totally repressed in "pious" Saudi Arabia, even for those foreigners who work there. They are forbidden from practicing their own religions. We minorities must stand together. I am glad the Druze and Circassians realize this and support Jewish Zionism and the rights of the Jews to self-determination in their historic, Biblical homeland. This is their best defense, to

It just kills you Arabs that even among your supposed nationalism there are many who support Israel's right to exist, and to exist as it is. It was the Druze who welcomed Jews, because they normally work well with the governance of their land. Druze are also wel respected in Lebanon because they don't kill people to take over, like in Arab cultures. Historically, and this is fact, Druze, Circarssians, Samaritans, even B'hai have been treated like crap, abused, terrorized, and out-rightly killed by their Arab Muslim neighbors. Ever wonder why they run to Israel to set up shop?? Seems like they really respect the freedoms they have under Israel, rather than Pals. Tell you what, when Israeli Arabs truly support the State rather than demand changes to suit them (like it every country that hosts them) - then they can be treated as equals. And that's more than I can say for any Jew that still lives in an Arab country, if they haven't been forced to flee for their lives yet.

Now you have a whole new group of people to hate besides Jews..... Druze, and Circassians. Possibly life is better for them living among Jews, instead of radical islamists????

And they know it. Just they have one problem, ENVY. And since they belong to the same tribe, as the other Arabs, they have difficulty to stomack Israeli progress. So they screem, BUT WOULD NEVER GIVE UP THE GOOD LIFE ,THEY HAVE IN ISRAEL. An old saying: No matter how well you feed the wolf, he always going to look into the forest.

We are told again and again by "experts" and "talking heads" that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam. The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The "peaceful majority' is cowed and extraneous.

Ok David, if as in America we have people of other nations bring their own customs in and we have to accept that and allow them the opportunity to cling to their customs than why is it that the Jewish state is allowed to maintain a monopoly on Jewish only policy. Israel is supposed to be a democracy and as in any democracy the state must allow for the rights of the minority to be heard and respected. This includes Israel. Israel must allow for this just as we (USA) have because if it doesn?t than Israel either a closed society without non-Jews or it is really an apartheid State. And as you state GB, France, Italy, Japan and China do take into account the rights of minority?s and the countries like China who don?t do a good job of this are routinely criticized. Acceptance is all these people want if you read the article.

There is no reason nor must Israel do anything to negate its Jewish culture. There was no ethnic cleansing towards Arabs to the levels there was towards the Jews in the region when Arabs ruled. There were several massacres that took place based solely on blind people like yourself following a religious figure, to ethnically cleanse the region of Jews who have lived there for hundreds of years. Not to mention the audacity of this same leader to meet with Hitler and requested a similar genocide of the ME Jews. Was it any wonder why Jews fought hard and Arabs received animosity after the Arab League demanded - in public - a fight that would cause Jewish blood to run like a river through the streets...and be worse than the invasions of the Monguls?? You, sir, are in no position - morally or politically - to demand anything from the State of Israel except absolute forgiveness. You wonder why Druze are treated with respect while Arabs curse the State, help bombers are not??

When Saudi Arabia adopts multiculturalism, multiple religions and language then Israel also will re consider. Until then?..

They want it to remain a jewish state so the druze can jion the army and have better life in israel. He is doing it in favour of druze the community living in israel. I wonder what these druze benefit israel apart from joining the IDF? Do they want israel to make peace? no because they want to keep joining the army and feel more secure.

... imagine the alternative , a country run by plo or hamas thugs...or worse, by both since now they "embrace" each other. on a diiferent note the state of isarel need to invest more into druze villages and culture.

muslims nations have more then 22 countries, where Islam is the national religion, and some have very little tolerance for any other minority. Christians, have more then 100 countries where they may not be necessary a state religion, but we all know that all cristians holidays ARE national holiday. THERE IS ONE JEWISH COUNTRY , (WHERE ITS LOYAL ARAB CITIZENS CAN CRITICISE IT AT WILL AND ARE FEEE TO DO SO) BUT SOMEHOW YOU GUYS THINK ITS A PROBLEM....let me guess , you guys are not exactly civil right lwayers wgo are truly concerned with the human race...its more the Jewish presence that bother you. well tough! WE ARE HERE , EVEN IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

If you hate where your living so much I suggest you pack up and move. If you want I will pay for the plane ticket.

You wrote - We dont blow up malls and buses ? But the fact is that the PKK has done all that. Killed a businessman at the Sabanci center and the perpetrator Fahriye Erdal is still free in Belgium. Last summer minibuses at summer resorts such as Kusadasi were blown up by the PKK. A mall in Bakirkoy was also blown some years ago by the PKK terrorists.

if Adala ever gets what it wants. And they know it. Which is why the prefer a Jewish State.

I am loving the haters in these Talkbacks trash-talking the Druze and Circassians for not falling in line with THEIR (the haters) view of how THEY (the Druze and Circassians) should feel about Israel. Sorry guys, but THEY'RE the ones actually living in Israel. Goes to show you these haters care not for the non-Jewish minorities in Israel and the territories, but merely for those communities that buy into their Israel hating agenda, wherever they may be (e.g. they love Israel-hating Naturei Karta but hate on Israel-embracing Druze and Circassians). Fools.

Ahmed, in what Arab country would you be allowed to write the type of letter you just wrote to Haaretz. They would of called you a traitor and killed you.

If you commit yourself to the Israeli ethnocracy, to the so called "Jewish democracy" than you rationalize the same phenomenon elsewhere. Why not reGermanize Germany, or did we agree sixty years ago that ethnic cleansing and race-based-nationalism is not consistent with our basic political ethics?

Tell Adallah and the Arabs who live in Israel that the Land is the Land of Israel, the Homeland of the Jewish people in existence for over 3 thousand years with Jerusalem, the united undivided Capital of the Sovereign State of Israel.This is a historical fact and the Arabs who live here are occupying the Holy Land of the Jewish people.If your people are not happy here, I am sure they will be much happier in Jordan, Lebanon, Arabia or in Iran.Open the Holy Bible and read the history of the Jews in this Land.

I suppose you'd rather have them kill Jewish children, you hypocrite!

Do you not think that Jews have a right to a state or their own? Also, don't you realize that only a Jewish state would protect the rights of a Druz minority? The record of Arab states in protecting religous minorities, and even the record of the PA, is just plain disgusting.

Go and choose a better place you have plenty of choices as for now and actuality HEBREW IS THE MAIN LANGUAGE but you as an ARAB can speak all the crap you want if you wish in any language JUDAISM IS THE MAIN RELIGION but you as an ARAB can follow any religion you wish if you wish DEMOCRACY IS THE POLITICAL FOUNDATION but you as an ARAB can talk about alternatives if you wish HUMAN RIGHTS ARE EXPRESSED but you as an ARAB can defy them in your own home if you wish now for some facts that hirt even me the Arab population is the receipient of 50% of the Welfare Aid distributed in ISRAEL even though ARABS constitute only 17% - 20% of the nation's population- exact figure is unclear due to the illegal entries through tunnels, and payoffs to Israeli Arabs smuggling in Palestinians. I guess having 10+ kids in every family is somewhat hard to deal with. Thank Allah you live in Israel, instead of the other Arab antions where your civil rights would equal a bucket of camel dung

We dont blow up malls and buses, we dont have a culture of evil. Why dont you promote a state for us in Turkey instead of a corrupt and evil people that call themselves palestinians?!?!?!??!

The Israeli state should remain just that a Israeli State. It was started by Jews and it was a place of refuge for Jews around the world. To change what Israel is will just be creating another Lebanon or far worst. It is a Jewish State and Country

USA was founded by Europeans who discovered and started to populate it. Africans, Asians etc joined later. It is a multicultural society where each nation brought its own language and customs. GB, France, Italy, Japan, China they all have their distinct culture and language just like the Jewish state of Israel had its distinct Jewish culture and language for 5 millenniums.

The Arab plan is a joke--of course we all know that every Arab country has such a constitution, right? You can't even find a church in Saudi Arabia, let alone such a constitution. More Arab hypocrisy masquerading as idealism.

The more Israel gives in, the less she becomes. This latest ploy will further weaken the state and embolden the enemy. No matter what Israel does to satisfy her detractors, it will NEVER be enough.

Israel should remain as it is, more or less, It is the only democracy in the Middle East and if we let those religious assholes from either side of the spectrum to dictate what the state is then all will suffer. I would however expect the state of Israel to do a better job of integrating the Arabs into our western society. Provide incentives, treat our Arabic cousins at least as well as we treat Ethiopians, Russians, and other peoples that are supposedly Jewish. This would help integrate them into normal society. Provide basic services, enlist into the army, give the same educational advantages as jewish citizens get, make them pay their taxes etc etc. Only then will they give and receive the same status as other citizens. My 2c. Me.

They want israel to remain jewish democractic state as they know the consequences to them of "The Democratic secular state of palestine"

Welcome to what the United States has become. This article states that the plan ?proposed constitution classifying the State of Israel as a "bilingual and multicultural" country rather than a Jewish state.? In the United States of America where 90% of the people associate ourselves as Christians we have been forced to accept bilingual and multicultural for the few other sects. This has been promoted by lots of groups, specifically, the Jewish Americans. I only have one question. If this ?bilingual and multicultural? is good for the USA and Christians why isn?t it good for Israel and Jews?

Liberals around the world, who are accusing Jews for the desire to have their own state, received severe blow: Arab Druzes and non-Arab Muslims, citizens of Israel, rejected help from Big Brothers - "righteous" western liberals.

I worked extensively with some guys from both communities. Some of the hardest working, no nonsense people I have had the pleasure of doing business with. OK, so much of it is in self interest, but it is a business partnership with none of the 'honor' BS all too present in Arab society. Although Israeli Arabs appear far more advanced than others in the Middle East - could this have anything to do with the freedoms they enjoy; head & shoulders above the 'rights' offered to the residents of Israel's neighbors. As for multiculturalism? What a joke! Just take a look at what's happening in the UK....

A representative of a treasonous communities that sends it children to kill palestinian children, with zero academic level, tells it all: israel is sectarian, racist, yet "democratic" LOL indeed, this is a silly joke

It was a major mistake that some Druze and Circassian leaders have accepted to do Israel's dirty work in return for some crums and a third class status. They joined the Zionists in opressing the Arab majority of Palestine. Little wonder that they see their desity intertwined with the Zionist. They should think twice and side with right against might. This will insure their future survival.

the jewish state is the most fair and internally stable country in the region, by far. sure it has problems, but nothing like any of the countries which have an islamic majority. to change the nature of israel as a jewish state would be to doom it to permanent chaos and sectarianism. besides, arab israelis have it better, more rights and freedoms, than minorities anywhere else in the greater middle east.