Arabic studies to become compulsory in Israeli schools

useful idiots sure to find an angle

Why not Impose Sharia to Promote Gay Rights?

I think every Israeli should speak Arabic so they know all the insults hurled at them daily, and what all the shouting is about. Maybe its not so important on the Kibbutz or north Tel Aviv, but everywhere else.

will help better understanding.

Hmmm... Are you sure you didn't get this backwards?

Where is the corresponding reciprocal action from the ARAB/MUSLIM states let alone PAL-LAND? OH I forget-in Saudi Arabia and PAL-LAND (once it gets established)--its a jew-free zone thus no need.and in the few Islamic lands where some Jews remain as a tiny minority--why bother? Also --I'm just waitng for the usual HAMS-HEZZY retort to this wonderful gesture by Israel--THEY probably will charghe that it has the purpose of increasing the size of the ARABIC SPEAKING ZIONIST SPY CORPS.. BUT wait--why stop with ARABIC..Shouldn't everyone be learning FARSI--I mean whose DHIMMI you gonna be anyway? TOLERANCE and ACCEPTANCE--imagiune now that all Israeli kids can read ARABIC it is a hop step and jump away from actually reading the KORAN and understanding that the JEWS are APES and PIGS ,and that all PEACE-LOVING TRUE BELIEVER MUSLIMS would do jEWS a big favour to kill them in order to save them from eternal hell-burning --isn't that real brotherly human love? Yep those Israeli kids learning arabic are going to EITHER have a far easier time converting to the MUSLIM majority taking over the world (after all look at the potential larger marriage pool once you can actually talk to them-what sane HUMANITARIAN would want that?) --OR if they insist on retaining their Jewish language ,culture,history and religion-then once they read their FATE from the KORAN they will then either beg the muslims to save them from Hell by exterminating them OR they will showe MUSLIMs with the JIZYA "PROTECTION MONEY which should earn some brownie points with ALLAh so that at tHE END they might still get a choice to convert to avoid being thrown in hell-fire. Isn't tolerance and ACCEPTANCE of such a wonderful future GREAT...YEP ALLAH AKBAR etc..etc..ad nauseum ( I puke at the idea of ISRAEL to "SUBMIT" to the ARABIC "INEVITABILITY" of "THE SITUATION". IMAGINE the AMERICAN forcing all their kids to learn SPANISH to "appease" the SITUATION with their neighbours to the south. THIS moment is the BEGINNING OF THE END. SURRENDER CURRICULUM 101.. And the Arabs and Muslims all LAUGH cause-llok guys WE (the Islamics) are winning-WE (the Islamics) are forcing them to CONCEDE to our lingua Arabica whilst we DO NOT HAVE TO AND NEVER WILL force our kids to learn Hebrew (a languag for apes and pigs as Prophet Mohamed --May Peace Be upon Him - told US-and He wouldn't couldnt lie,could he? ). ONce the Israeli kids can talk to our in Arabic --imagine how EASY it willbe for us to further convince them they are STILL OCCUPYING OUR LAND (the portion they get in any PEACE deal)--because surely they willwatch our Arabic programming every night and we'll start using ASSUD and other puppet shows to "grab" them in the early years to come arounfto OUR CASE OUR CAUSE. This will drive their GUILT to higher levels in theoir own minds and trhey will rebel against the older generation of Zionists still remaing. Yes my "PALS" this is a glorious day --The Jews have started cutting their own throats.. Their kids will start falering in Englush further cuting them thelves off from any DISPORA support. They arte feeding their own DOOM and DO NOT REALIZE IT-because they want to do the TOLERANT thing..the POLITICALLY CORRECT "gesture"--little realizing that they have taken the 1st steps to fading from history. THE have blinked first. They jave kow-towed to OUR "FACT". ARABIC inevitably will swap HEBREW.. NEXT they won't be able to resist the crush of Koran against their feeble Torah which as their Hebrew declines in importance they will start discrading.WE win guys..We win! YEs I can inagine that is exactly how they feel with this announcent. ISRAEL is DOOMED because its politicians a blind fools. Do they think the looney International Left and the trade unions will STOP their "APARTHEID and DISVESTMENT campagins just because of oNE LESS SEPARATION item? Because JEWs are so -well CONCILIATORY? FOOLS! Talk with Israeli CTIZEN ARABS in their language-- get convinced even easier of your daddy's "GUILT" over treatment of these guys "cousins" just over the fence in Pal-Land--then therecann'yt be ANY reason to have separate states.. Lets all live togethyer in one happy CUMBAIAH state where hey -if we must become a minority and dHIMMI to tHEM -well by gosh its just the right thing to do..iSN"T IT? The ant-zionist Israeli Left is rejoicing a their MSTER PLAN to show THE WORLD hoe TOLERANT they are includinmg ULTIMATEKLY TOLERATING NO ISRAEL or heavens A MUSLIM and ARABIC ISRAEL CONVERSO must be thirlling to them. Committing cultural HARA-KIRI to APPEASE the "WORLD" de-legitimizers of Israel by showing ever more degrees of unending-neverending and NEVER ENOUGH "TOLERANCE" -that is the LEFTY politically correct MASTER PLAN to convert Israel --THEY think it will bbe so SHOCKINGLY TOLERANT that none in the International Left could possibly hate this PARADISE OF DEMOCRATIC HUMANITARIAN UTOPIA.. The new LEFT ISRAEL willbe so inherently angelically "GOOD" that surely it willbe a light unto the nations..Sure it will... WHY I can see the Sudis all of a sudden allowing Jews to step into the soil of their holy country -imagine the tourist trade now that Isralis speak a proper laguage and not that ape-talk (hebrew) ---i see all Arabic countries "opening up" to this gesture-welcoming the "NEW" arabic speakers who instead of payiong the jiya will just transfer the money as tourists..ISn't this lEFTY vision of HEAVENLY PEACEFUL RELATIONS wonderful? The few realists remaining will sigh..recognize that PARADIE s never achieved on this Earth ,shrug to the inevitable DOOM that will result of this gesture,and make their vacation plans in other destinations--because they know HELL will freeze over first before ANYTHING changes in S. Arabia and in the MUSLIM psyche to be supreme, The "opening up" gesture forcing their kids to learn ARABIC probaly gets NO RECIPROCAL benefits and instead probably brings unforsee (by them) worse consequences- BUT they can delude themselves with PRIDE that --once again THEY TRIED-even if the other guy dosn;t appreciate the gestrureas they thought. So boys anfgirls let's learn THEIR LANGUAGE..We can them start LOVING their books,thei songs, their t.v. shows (continuslly harping on OUR GUILTand OPRESSION)--now we can just undertand their DESPAIR (in not lording it over US by taking OUR abcestral land) a lot better... PAL agit-prop if you thought it only poisned the minds of a few Israeli looney Left Do-gooders,will now explode into a gush that will infect the ENTIRE next generation of Israli Jews...THAT puts the PAL "ULTIMATE WIN" scenario at about 2-3 decades away at most. The first mail is in the coffin..MORE to follow. Congrats Israeli Left --your dream of exterminating Jew-land is almost upon us. P.S. --you have made your bed with the ARabs now --tis will excarerbate any residual caring forIsreal remaing in the diaspora.. YOU are doomed there. We jews here in Diaspora are also DOOMED to fadeaway here. WHY bother anymore? YOU care for the Arabs there more than for us here/ Surely estrangement from your next gen kids will follow.Your next gen kids will NATURALLY be interest more in their ARABIC "neihbours" and SOON the rational to continue apart from the mainstreamof YOUR region will be lost on those kids. You are right-- talking to the ARABS in their language it wilbecome IMPOSSIBLE for your next gen kids to hate Arabs or just tolerate them..MOre and more will want to be "in fashion" and EMULATE them... The cousins in Disapora -well they couldn't bother learning Hebrtew anyway-sop why learn English just to talk tro them? Better to talk to the neighbours,get to know them..then a leapto joint friensship "outings' together,then romances frothe MIXING....beutifuly TOLERANT -but with predictable consequences that eventually the raiso d'etre for a HEBRE state,for a JEWISH state,entirly isnolonger rationsal or justifiable. Mightas wll justjoin THEM.

In teh federation of Canada, we have two main founding peoples, English and French, with two languages and religions, who live/work together. There are even different versions of the same history, and separate museums with different versions in Ottawa and Quebec. There are some concerns and irritations to keep people aware. Everyone thrives. Let this be a goal for Israel, Israelis, and Palestinians in Israel and Palestine.

Great news! Jew traditionally spoke Arabic as a language of trade and communication in much of the Mediterranean. They conducted much of the trade between the European and Arab countries, they also worked as doctors, astronomers, philosophers... in many Arab countries. This kind of action can only open up minds to other realities and create a more flexible, knowledgeable way of looking at the world. I remember meeting Amos Gitai once who mentioned "I wish just as many Jewish Israelis spoke Arabic as Palestinians, Hebrew." Well maybe this can create more understanding between the two communities. It can't do harm.

will promote tolerance and convey a message of acceptance." Inshallah!

I wonder why there was no mention in this article about the mass exodus of school principles upon the singing of Hatikvah at the completion of the meeting?

English should be the most important and Arabic second. But both should be compulsory.

All Israelis should have the same public education - period. All (native born) Israelis should speak at least Hebrew, Arabic and English. Religious schools (whether Jewish, or Muslim or Christian) should be private schools that the parents should have to pay for (maybe the Heradim will start getting jobs to pay for this like their brethren in the U.S.). (Designed) Segregation is (IMHO) the major obstacle for Israel. It seems all other problems derive from that (hatred of the Other). This is a positive step (something Israel seems to usually be allergic too).

This gives me some small hope for a just peace settlement.

Teaching a 3rd language with a 3rd alphabet will only confuse the kids and come at the expense of English. In anycase, what use is the Arab World with its poverty / polygamy / dictatorship / honor killings & Sharia laws?

So far at least I don't see anybody on here condemning the decission everybody all seems to be in agreement its a good idea which I think is probably a first for this site. This new law wont do anything to unite arabs & Israelis but it has at least united the posters on here. Now lets see if Nattalie Durston & Tony Silver can come on here and also support the plan because if they do history really will have been made with this article.

I study Arabic at my university, I think this program is great. Language is culture in context (as my professor says), learning it will allow students a greater insight into Arab culture. I was shocked to see how similiar (if not the same) Jewish culture is to Arabic culture.

Finally!!!!! Coming from Switzerland in 1951 as a new olah, I was struck negatively that the second language of the country, Arabic, was not taught in Israeli Batei Sefer Amami. How can you live together peaceably when you do not understand your neighbour? They gave me at the time and still give today every conceivable "reasonable" reason why this should be so. I never had any comprehension for this... Let us hope that the Ministry of Education will not let them be intimidated by the opposition that will arise no doubt.

This has nothing to do with peace making or making friends with the arabs in Israel its about education, its logical and should have happened decades ago. Other than Iran and Israel all the Middle Eastern states use arabic as a first language so it makes sense Israeli kids learn the language of their neighbor its potentially good for economic reasons in future and as the arabs are our enemies its good to know your enemy. Israel has neglected languages for decades now. Lots of native born Israelis don't even have a basic knowledge of english let alone arabic. The arab world does see the importance of languages like english more than Israel does and that needs to change. In Europe its compulsory in some countries to learn another european language, in some US schools they teach spanish because in Mexico next door they speak spanish, In Canada they learn english and french. Its time Israel took languages more seriously so the next generation will grow up with a working knowledge of foreign languages both the language of our neighbors and the language of international business .. english. Its good to know the education ministry is using abit of logic over what they teach unlike previous education minister Yuli Tamir who wanted Israeli schools to take zionism & jewish studies out the curriculum but include things like nakba... Theaching arabic is a great idea now lets come up with some more great ideas to improve schooling for Israeli children.

This is like the planned addition to the curiculum of U.S. scholls of the study of 'Ebonics". For those of you not familiar with 'Ebonics', it is the hip-hop street language of the ghetto negro in the U.S. cities. It has become so prevalent that those who speak it exclusively in their culture wanted recognized as an offical language of the United States. That demand has been superceeded by the demand that Mexican-Spanish be listed as a second language in America. Enjoy your halal language lessons!

This is like the planned addition to the curiculum of U.S. scholls of the study of 'Ebonics". For those of you not familiar with 'Ebonics', it is the hip-hop street language of the ghetto negro in the U.S. cities. It has become so prevalent that those who speak it exclusively in their culture wanted recognized as an offical language of the United States. That demand has been superceeded by the demand that Mexican-Spanish be listed as a second language in America. Enjoy your halal language lessons!

Israeli Jews LEARN what Diaspora Jews knew all the time: KNOWING other people's language CAN and IS an important ASSET, not a threat. Cos: only IF and WHEN you (can) understand( what they are saying) you KNOW what they say. And mostly NOT even all is needed to understand what people say and that means that with some knowledge you do communicate andat least listen & understand the things other people (want to) say. How come I DO understand enoughly French and German, while I don't live in France or Germany? And my Italian as well is well enough to at least understand what IT is an Italian wants to say. Because I learn FASTLY and don't wait until others offer me some course?!

Anyone who does an Arabic course starts with the alphabet. Except in Israel. It's considered too difficult and time-consuming. So if you wish to learn spoken Arabic you have to learn it transliterated into Hebrew. Even Arab teachers of Arabic in Israel seem to find this compromise normal. I was completely incredulous, but had to give up. I could already read Arabic, but didn't know the local dialect. Trying to learn it via transliteration and deprived of the alphabet to see how it was written was just too backhanded and complicated. // Nice to know the penny's dropped somewhere at last.

School should be integrated, the whole contry should be integrated and not segregated into arabic localities and jewish ones....

We, Israelis; jews and arabs are destined to live together in this beautiful country called Israel. Israeli arabs start learning hebrew at 3rd grade and it is required to get Begrut Shalem. Cultural exchange between jewish and arabic schools inside israel has been a great way to eliminate stereotypes and promote coexistence and shows how much we have in common. Hope to see more such programs.

I learned Hebrew by my own, no one halped me! It's a matter of perspective. I am going to learn Spanish as soon as possible שלום

To defeat your enemy, you have to speak his language

Arabic is divided into two distinct languages: spoken (colloquial, ammamiye) and written standard (fursha). They are different. Standard written has been taught for years in Israel. People who know standard written Arabic cannot converse on the street with their neighbors. Will the ministry teach colloquial Arabic? Up until now, standard written Arabic has been taught as a means of supplying the military with translators. What Israel needs is for 80% of the population to be able to speak to 20% of the population in their native language (and not always vice versa), Personal contact reduces friction.

Learning Arabic could help Israel become a dynamic part of the middle east.

Imagine if Spanish were required in schools in the US

If Israel follows through and makes Arabic compulsory for all its students, it will have taken a major move toward reconciliation and peace. Israel deserves praise for this first step!

this is a right decision....Israelis needs to learn the language of their 20% (Arab Israelis)..also Arabic is the 6th language in the UN..its usage increases day by day inside Internet. Arabic is an official language in Israel and hence every one need to speak it. Israel is part of ME and learning Arabic is a basic need and most to know... dont forget that Arabic and Hebrew are very similar in many ways..(grammar, vocabulary).. please don't tell me ...get to know the enemy,,,this is a has been and Jew and Arabs are now leaving together... I blame the Israeli officials for not having a clear startery to target the Arab world in Arabic..I dont understand this. Israel needs to have a space channel, radios, newspaper in Arabic..

B"H This is a development to be gladly welcomed and emulated by other nations similarly situated --- either linguistically (Belgium, with Flemish and French), or ethnically heterogeneous. Greece, for example, has inexorably been moving towards dealing with the issues of integrating a Muslim minority (200,000), and a general immigrant population of more that one million; that's not counting the numerous dialects spoken by inherent Greek-speaking populations such as the Vlachs, people from Pontos, and, of course Greek-Jews who have both Romaniote (of authentic Greek stock) and Sephardic (Ladino-speaking from the Spanish expulsion in 1492) roots. A progressive step for the Greek polity is not only to make English available in the early grades (as it is poised to do this fall), but to also include rigorous study of the Holocaust; Turkish, and the other disciplines with the similarly aim to do for Greece as Dr. Shlomo Alon, Head of Arabic and Islam Education in the Ministry of Education, told the 'Walla' news Website to accomplish for Israel: "Studying Arabic will promote tolerance and convey a message of acceptance." Only the obscurantist, chauvinist, jingoist, and otherwise one lacking understanding of history's march toward world cooperation, compassion, and dispassionate analysis would oppose such program(s)! Prof. Asher J. Matathias Woodmere, NY-USA

Hope this encourages many more religious parents to send their kids to Haredi school, where we don't waste time on nonsense like this! they going to teach them to ride camels and smuggle Africans across the border as well?

I am a Jew who lived in a Muslim country. I feel very strongly that Arabic should be taught before the 5th grade. The younger the child, the easier it is for him or her to learn a foreign language. By the time we started learning Arabic, it was also the 5th grade, it was too late to master the language. It is of the utmost importance that Israeli children be fluent in Arabic as soon as they can so that there can never be any added and dangerous misunderstandings when they communicate with their Arab neighbours. And quite honestly, I am shocked that you have waited so long to implement this language tool which will certainly reward you with good will from your Arab neighbours.

Arabic, every school nearby I know teaches Arabic. I recall my Arabic teacher saying it's compulsory.

Jews and Arabs are never going to get along unless they can talk ot each other. Equally, they're never really going to be one nation until they've been to school together. There is too much separation of Jews and Arabs permitted in Israel's schools. Separate schooling creates a rift that lasts a lifetime. Desegregated schooling creates friendships and understanding that last a lifetime.

but welcome news none the less.

Well done! The children of Israel will benefit enormously from this. I also hope the Arab nations will follow your lead and move toward a more tolerant position. There is every reason for hope and optimisim so long as countries engage the differences within and without.

How is this going to promote tolerance? If you want to promote tolerance you take those children through the checkpoints that Palestinians have to queue at everyday. You give them a tour of the West Bank, the way in which settlements are strategically placed to break up the land. You show them the route of the wall, and how it destroys people's livelihood. Maybe then can you really begin to understand why a people are what they are and begin to 'tolerate' .. this is barely a step.

Everyone should know Arabic. It can only help us better understand the enemy.

Kudos to the Ministry of Education for taking this long overdue decision.

I recently made 'aliyah' to Israel, but speak fluent Hebrew as I get up in an Israeli household. The Ministry of Absorption and Jewish Agency were a little less that responsive to my suggestion that I use my 500 hours of government-funded language lessons to learn Israel's other official language: Arabic. Obviously, they thing people moving here should only speak Hebrew, which is a message that's now inconsistent (fortunately) with the Ministry of Education. Also, I hope Governor Schwarzenegger is reading this article, as California (and Arizona, Texas, Nevada, etc) could also use some bilingual education, Belgium-style.

this will be a tsunami that will wash off plenty hatred between the two people,there shoul be a noble prize for it,good job...

It's quite pleasing to hear some positive initiatives from Israel.

Finally some common sense pervades the educational decision makers.Not only will this create a better chance for tolerance and understanding between the two communities, but what a gift it is to have another language under your belt.

A little peak of what I once thought Israel was....great news..I hope some day arabic students across the arab world will also be encouraged to learn hebrew (and not for cyncical reasons such as "understanding our enemy" and the like) and welcome our neighbours to what could be a formidable regional block of nations, both economically and cultrurally.

A very good idea, bravo.

The arabs are learning hebrew & the jews will learn arabic. A great movement towards a one binational state. Tolerance is the key.