Poll: Half of Israeli teens don't want Arab students in their class
Study polling 500 teens aged 15 to 18 finds that most don't think Arabs enjoy equal rights in Israel, and most of those don't think Arabs deserve equal rights.
By Or Kashti Tags: Israel newsSixty four percent of Israeli teens aged 15 to 18 say that Arab Israelis do not enjoy full equal rights in Israel, and from that group, 59 percent believe that they should not have full equal rights, according to a special survey prepared for the "Education in the Digital Age" conference held in Haifa on Monday.
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Grade 11 students in Be'er Sheva (illustration). |
| Photo by: Alberto Denkberg |
The survey also revealed that 96 percent of the respondents want Israel to be a Jewish and democratic state, but 27 percent believe that those who object should be tried in court, and 41 percent support stripping them of their citizenship.
In answer to a question if they would be willing to learn in a classroom with one or more students with special needs, 32 percent answered in the negative. When the question was asked regarding Arab students, 50 percent of respondents answered in the negative. In addition, 23 percent said that they wouldn't want gays or lesbians in their class.
The survey was conducted by Professor Camil Fuchs from the Statistics Department of Tel Aviv University, in cooperation with the company Sample Project. The poll included about 500 people between the ages of 15 and 18. The conference has been sponsored by "Reshet Shocken," in cooperation with Haifa City Council.
The poll also revealed that 40 percent of Jewish youth have never been a part of a youth group, and 45 percent have never volunteered in any capacity.
In regard to motivation to serve in the IDF, 83 percent said that they don't doubt that they will serve, but about half said that they have friends that do not plan on enlisting.
More than half of the survey's respondents, 59 percent, said that they did not want to serve in combat units of the army. In response to a question of whether they would refuse to serve in the territories, 24 percent said they would refuse, 47 percent said that they would not refuse, and the remainder had not yet decided.
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The ones I met in USA are very sensitive about racism but that is not the case in the ones in Israel I guess.
....perhaps our misguided Israeli friends can understand why Palestinians have no interest in accepting the "jewish" nature of the modern state of Israel....as it is simply another way of saying non Jews have less rights and deserve less rights.
9-11 AND THE MOSQUE IS PROOF. SCREW THE PALS, EVERYONE ELSE HAS.
would give similar results and in fact, most of the children here do not want Arabs in their classes. Arabs live in their neighbourhoods and non-Arab children avoid going to the local state schools because of the violence aso. of Ar
Ah, forget it. What does it matter if these numbers are better than in most other countries?
Because they are not. Where in the hell are you getting this from? Or are you making it up hoping no one else knows. Pathetic
They should be taught that 15 Million US Arabs pay taxes, and indirectly that money gets to Israel as part of 4B/year aid and funding to Education ministry. So they are partly funded by Arabs!!
Muslims have a bad reputation that they've nourished and magnified through limitless violence, suicide bombings and any demonic scheme they could. Muslims are nothing to America. Unless we give them the credit for Arab piracy that began the US navy. And for the Saudi's interference in American politics. The world would be better off if all Muslims were dead Muslims.
I think you should be aware also that ORT schools are integrated with arabs, Jews, druze and ORT gives money to other schools whether all arab, Jew, or druze. I wonder what schools were polled. Certainly, the american-sponsored ORT schools want the students to be treated as equals, and they are sponsoring tolerance and interaction. As far as I know, they are successful. Most of these ORT schools are in Haifa, where relations are better between arabs and Jews. To the druze below, we have many schools in Israel that are integrated. The poll shows that more work has to be done to teach Israeli children the meaning of tolerance. I wonder if you took a poll of the ORT schools if the degree of tolerance and integration would not be more like 90-100%. I would like to know so that the ORT could learn if it is doing a good job or not of integrating the children. I think they are.
Mel Gibson's movie "Apocalypto" was racist in every sense that it reflected the colonial idea that we have got to save the savages, instill our religion, etc. An anthropologist answered the Mayan culture was very advanced in science and math; colonials were racist, etc.; it was wrong how Gibson portrayed them in the movie. In replying to those people who post here who have the same idea: our culture is superior and we are better than the "other" people, they were answered correctly that arab civilization was very advanced, gave us math, etc., in fact the "Golden Age." You shouldn't look down you noses at other people. When islam and christianity both have a history of intolerance, trying to convert and dominate people, it is time to realize that we are as good, if not better, than the other, to understand other cultures and people. Jews, who were dhimiis in muslim countries, and "no" citizens in Russia, should treat other people better, but they don't., this is the sad truth. Even in Lebanon, they talk about the Christians talk about the muslims as backwards; it is a colonial French attitude. Arabs have a culture and civilization way back. What happened to them under colonialism and how they are coming back to education is still a long way ahead, I am afraid, if their own people hold them back. However, the Jews in Israel should not be doing this to them. The arabs, gays, retarded, everyone has the right to a decent education. Maybe if these arabs got a good education in Israel, you would make more friends. Sad, Sad.
The poll numbers don't seem to make sense. For example, the article says "96 percent of the respondents want Israel to be a Jewish and democratic state." For that to be true, over 80% of the Arab students would have to want Israel to be a "Jewish" state. There are other questionable results, too. I have to doubt that this was a random sampling.
So many Jewish people, Israeli or not, are Arabs !
Israel is surrounded by Arabs with absolutely no diversity they're 99.9% Muslim. Those countries have 0 freedom controlled by dictators. Israel is a beautiful and democratic state with western and Judeo -Christian values. It shall remain that way! Keep the country Judeo-Christian. There's a reason millions of Arabs flee their homelands every year to go to the US and Europe, etc. because their countries are pathetic. The Islamist mentality needs to be kept out of Israel.
You're aware that islam is a judeo-christian religion. Abraham the daddy in all the fairytales.
Transfer the Arabs to Palestine and transfer the settlers to Israel..problem solved.
the Palestinian republic of jordan
64% say that Israeli Arabs do not enjoy full equal rights in Israel but presumably, that might include people who deplore this and think that they SHOULD have full equal rights. Then we’re told that 59% of this 64% think Israeli Arabs should not have full equal rights. That would mean 38% of the total sample. 38% is still an alarming figure that should cause great concern but hardly the grave numbers that everyone here is throwing about.
Racism against Arabs.
into thinking that Palastinains promote integration and tolerence.
The education department is cutting hours for civics classes at precisely the time that our society, and especially our youth, are becoming increasingly zenophobic and racist. Wil the increased hours in Judaic studies emphasize the message of the prophets or those of the Book of Joshua and the rantings of people like Ovadia Yosef?
Because the situation is so different on the other side?! If u did the same survey in Gaza u'd get the same results. Heck if u did the same survey in a places in Sydney they'd tell u they don't want Asians in their classrooms! It's racism but there's racism everywhere. Let's also remeber these are teenagers. They haven't seen the world & when they're older & go to university (where they will mix with Arab studnets) and when they travel their eyes will open up. As for Apartheid state guess what I live in Australia & I can tell you not everyone has equal rights. On Paper they do, but for sure Aboriginals don't live as equally as I do. Is Australia Apartheid, no. In every country you will find a group of ppl who don't seem to be as equal as others. Yes it's a problem, but it's not Apartheid.
It will take several generations to remove the racist and bigoted views that Israelis have of Arabs - and visa versa. The sooner we start the better. As for the Jewish and Democratic State thing - Israeli needs to be a Democratic State with a Jewish character - like the US is a Christian Country - with a constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion and a large degree of separation of synagogue and state.
My nephews come from an open liberal home that never said anything bad about an Arab and have much sympathy for the Palestinians. The children at 11-13 talked about how they hated Arabs because Arabs kill Jews, "it is on the news every day".
The majority is Christian, but that does not make it a Christian country, since there is separation of Church and State. Christianity is NOT the state religion. You cannot favor one religion over another under the Constitution; that is what equality is. Thanks to the Republican Party and the evangelists, for totally misinforming you. Christianity is not the State religion of america. In fact the values the founders favored were humanistic, not religious principles. However, if Israel were to follow the USA, there would be separation of state and religion; no religion would be favored, even if the Jews retain the majority. Read some books on the first amendment to the constitution. George Anastaplo of Loyola Law School, a first amendment scholar, has written many books about the first amendment, freedom of religion. You can buy them on amazon. btw, he is a supporter of Israel.
Even if it's a Jewish State. Is it true that American presidents have to be Christian, anonymous?- I'm not sure, I'm asking.
Children usually adopt the beliefs of their parents and Israeli demographic changes show that the haredim are increasing in number, the old-style liberal Ashkenazim are dying out and, in general, society is becoming more right-wing.
Infact, for many years I have given financial support to a school which has both Jewish and Arab pupils and teachers.
Now I know. It means a state where Israeli Arabs do not have equal rights, nor should they. A state where people that oppose a " Jewish and democratic state" should be either stripped of their citizenship tried in a court. A state where Israeli Arabs are not allowed to go to the same schools as Jews. So, just as I had thought might be the case, I now know that " Jewish and democratic state" = Apartheid state.
Now I know. It means a state where Israeli Arabs do not have equal rights, nor should they. A state where people that oppose a " Jewish and democratic state" should be either stripped of their citizenship tried in a court. A state where Israeli Arabs are not allowed to go to the same schools as Jews. So, just as I had thought might be the case, I now know that " Jewish and democratic state" = Apartheid state.
Now I know. It means a state where Israeli Arabs do not have equal rights, nor should they. A state where people that oppose a " Jewish and democratic state" should be either stripped of their citizenship tried in a court. A state where Israeli Arabs are not allowed to go to the same schools as Jews. So, just as I had thought might be the case, I now know that " Jewish and democratic state" = Apartheid state.
From the country whose foreign minister is Avigdor Lieberman!
Young people say what they think. I assume they haven't had any experience of learning together with Arabs, so it is only natural for them to be uncomfortable with the idea. May feel out of place but I've read some time ago studies of hate crimes in India (don't remember its title). It seemed that hate crimes happened more frequently where "us" and "them" lived totally separated from each other, less frequently where "us" did business with "them", and the situation was best in places where "us" and "them" were engaged both in the same businesses and in the same non-profit organizations. So it could be a good idea to let them know each other from childhood. Respect is the name of the game, the MUTUAL RESPECT.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT TO MAKE MIXED CLASSES,AND NOT TO LISTEN TO RIGHT WING LEADERS. OTHERWISE AN APPARTHEIDE STATE WILL BE IN ISRAEL FOR SURE.
Arab countries already practice Apartheid. Saudi Arabia is a shining example. No churches, synagogues, Jews, many other minorities. Not a peep from anybody.
What do you know about arab coutries Gianni ? please enlighten us with your knowledge !!!
Countries that are good allies with the USA and supported by the USA, like you said, Saudi Arabia and ..... guess .... ISRAEL !!!!! Do you want to follow the steps of Saudi Arabia ???!!!!!!
I think there are better role models you could use.
A heckuva lot more than you know about Israel. Enough to know that I would be prevented from visiting many Arab countries. I know one thing. YOU know zero about Israel, except your ingrained biased views.
They are brainwashed by rightist and racist propaganda.
No brainwashing needed. We only need to see the cold-blooded murder of four people last week, and thousands of Jews before them. You want brainwashing, read the Arab textbooks that are taught in schools.
The people who were killed were not in Israel but in the neighboring country, where they had developed a settlement that is a violation of International Law. They chose to leave safe Israel.
This is the result of years of brainwashing the youth into believing that they have an exclusive right of ownership to the land and the Arabs are intruders who don't have rights. the key is to change the Israeli school curriculum and to change the rampant racism in the media
that create this level of hate. amazing how that is completely ignored.
You have A LOT of changing to do in the Arab schools before you can come here and discuss brainwashing. When you are done with the schools, your next project is the mosques, where your lovely Imams give sermons of hate. When you are done, in a Centurt, let's have a talk. First, clean up your huge, bigoted mess.
We must speak to our children. Help them separate fear from right and wrong
This poll is not surprising in the least. It is merely a reflection of the society in which these children are growing up. Deprived of any contact with people of different cultural background and absence of any kind of friendship with anyone but your own religious and national group would produce the same result in any country around the world. It is not the children who are to blame for such a bigoted view. It is the society, with its constant promotion of outright racism. When a certain rabbi talks about those who are different as if they are animals to be put down, children listen and adopt the same stance. When Arab man is accused of rape after having consentual sex with a Jewish girl, just because he is an Arab and she didn't know that, same happens. Examples are many, too many too account, but you all know them, and have probably seen them as well. Children listen, observe, and adopt the same code of conduct as their elders. This is, sadly, the picture of Israel today. Picture of Israel where being a bigot and a racist is a perfectly normal and condoned behaviour. What is worse, this is a glimpse of future Israel, a future where these children take their seat at the helm of state. A very grim future indeed. It seems conceviable that we just might see that "State of Judea" in our lifetimes .
So, only one half of the Israeli teens should get true anthropocentric concepts.
What a name !!
What is wrong with this world? How can humans be so evil, even at a young age.
lol
No, YOU make ME laugh. I'm surprised it is only half. Maybe we need to talk to the other half, who don't mind. It is the Arabs who are a racist bunch and want no Jews in their pure kingdom in the Middle East. who would want to sit in class with a future terrorist ??
obviously you haven't either.
I'm a Palestinian Christian, and I've been treated very well by my Muslim teachers and classmates here in the West Bank. Some of them are studying in Birzeit University in the West Bank other went to Europe, and other were accepted at Harvard, MIT, Yale, and Stanford (I'm not kidding, I can give you the link to my school in the Ramallah to make sure yourself). None of them killed an Israeli civilian but the opposite, it was some of my friends' relatives who lost people during the second Intifada. Don't forget that Baghdad was 40% Jewish in 1920, and more than 90% of the businesses in Baghdad were owned by Iraqi Jews. But of course racism exists everywhere, therefore in Arab countries/communities too.
I commend your view. Hopefully, with many thousands of Palestinians who share your views, a true Peace can be forged. When kids see suicide bombers in malls, buses and discos, where their friends have been wounded, how could they want to co-exist. The damage caused by Hamas evil will take years to be undone. The opinions of school kids will take as long. Recruit your educated colleagues to change your lives for the better. You will find an Israeli partner with an outstreched hand, to help realize your dreams. When Israelis see the Hamas banners, with guns and knives, the glorification or a female suicide bomber, I would want an Arab in my class either. You sound like a great guy, Mobilize your colleagues.
FULL MIDDLE EAST IS UNSECULAR.THEY DONT ALLOW MINORITIES RIGHT TO PRACTISE THEIR RELIGION.I THINK EVERY MIDDLE EAST COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE A COMPLEX OF DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS WORSHIPPING PLACES ,LIKE CHURCH ,MOSQUE, TEMPLE, SYNAGOGUE,GURUDWARA, ETC AND THESE SHOULD BE BUILT BY THEIR RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS
believe they live in an Apartheid State.
Jordan, Syria, and especially the Saudis. Israel an apartheid state is a joke compared to other countries. And their women's "rights" are a joke. Barking up the wrong tree, boys.
i'm not surprised, i'm sure these stats correlate to how these children are raised. everyone can agree on humus!
which animals? my cat is pretty sweet, even to other cats. funny how calling people animals seems to say nothing about the target of the slur and so very much about s/he who uttered it
Joe, maybe you have had a bad experience with "Arabs" but you should not allow that to inform your view of the entire Arab population. Don't be so narrow minded.
thats their own rights. non of jews can even travel to arabian countries then why they can study in israel.. am as a kurdish in kurdistan i dnt wanna see them in my country
As far as i know, Israeli's are free to travel to Turkey, Morocco, Indonesia & India. None of these are Arabian per se, but they are significantly muslim. The point is, that for the the other 50% Israelis students who wouldn't mind sharing are denied it. This article focuses on the ignorant and haters, but they comprised 50% with respect to the Arabic question even though they agreed Israel ought to remain a Jewish DEMOCRATIC state. 50% in the negative can't overshadow 50% in the affirmative and be Democratic. So kojin the question is not what Arabs want in their own land but what Israeli's want at home, and it seems they are divided 50/50 on how to live with their Arabic neighbors.
The article is dealing with the Israeli Arabs who make up a fifth of Israeli population. Secondly, you have very little idea of the democratic political cultures if you think that a half of their students would oppose to Jews (or Arabs for that matter) in their classes. Thirdly, this opposition in Israel is not "their" own rights". It's their own opinion. So far.
I find this article most disheartening if it is true. My son served in an elite unit as an officer, and at the same time when he came home for holidays on leave on of my greatest joys was to see when an Arab worker near out home was left to watch a mound of sand on buildig site in the cold of the night, it was my son who went to him with a plate of food on Seder night, to see that not only we had food, but he did too. This was a proud moment for me as a Mother, to see that my son can defend his country and still remain a decent human being with values for his fellow man no matter where they are from and what colour their skin. Im so sorry many children have not been taught equality here, and lack of bigotry. After all our history, have we not learnt? If we continut like this we shall be back in the dark ages.
Thank you > from a non-Jew. Shalom
Congratulations on raising a decent human being and also a loyal Israeli! He did the right think without conflict and you should be most proud as a parent. My point of view, though I have no stats at hand, just an hunch here, is that, had this survey been taken 30 years ago the numbers would be even higher. Remember 50% replied in the negative to the sharing school with an Arab and 50% in the affirmative. The country is divided down the middle on how to live with its Arab neighbors. Demonstrations like your sons are the answer, know your enemy but be able to recognize a human being too. I think later generations will be putting more human faces to the idea of enemy, and only then will fear disappear and with it hate.
How can your son be a deent person when he is in the IDF and oppresses the Palestinians?
Rachelle should not be radicalised--she may not see all of your points but at least keep her on your side if you want the IDF to stop oppressing Palestinians. That change must be driven from within Israeli society as well as internationally as in Boycotts etc.
500 teens is hardly an appropriate sample size to say that this is indicative of the entire teen population. how can anyone trust these numbers when given in this fashion? has anyone ever read a poll before? what are the margins? how were these teens selected? how was the poll administered? where was the poll administered? polling teens in the west bank will obviously give different results than polling teens in tel aviv. i suspect they have a high margin of error and I suspect that was deliberately not reported
Statistically you are wrong. 500 is a very large sample and is considered representative with less than a 3% margin of error.
Sample size is not the only determinant of the margin of error. Mainly, what were the confidence levels and desired margin of error. I'm not saying the data is incorrect as obviously I don't know, but it has not been presented correctly. 3% margin of error is coming from where?
it's getting more clear that this is a racist country and should never ever be part of Europe or the EU.
This is one single journalists opinion. not the whole of Israel, and who knows if the numbers here are correct or not. You know how the media likes to brew things up, surely........Rather lets work towards peace and acceptance, and you can help with that too
"Euarabia" must be rather attractive since most European Jews do not wish to leave and make ailyah. You see, "Eurabia" is at peace, offers freedom to all citizens, offers economic prospects, offers culture and liberty from religious zealots. I mean, for many European Jews, living in a country where civil marriage does not exist and where religious zealots are in control of all religious matters if not fun.
Thanks in advance, Chafeeka.
D'ont give lesson to the diaspora and the european jews. And prey ( because you prey) that Israël will keep its economical relations with the EU. Without our market, Israël faces one more huge problem
obama wants to "instill" shariah law? i'm reminded of a gray lawson cartoon where a psychiatric patient is lying on a couch talking, and the psychiatrist in the foreground is writing on his notepad, "just plain nuts."
i thought chafeeka wrote eurabia or US. but i'll stand by my post anway. Chafeeka is "just plain nuts."
All the arab defenders will get their dose soon. There was some British Imam on CNN yesterday with Fareed Zakaria defending the London bombings. He OPENLY stated that he wants Sharia Law in Britain. Left to his vices, Big Ben would be draped in a keffiyeh. Good luck Europe, you're floating down the toilet. Israel wants no part of this. Neither does the US. We won't be dhimmis, Europe will.
Shouldn't we non Jews have also equal attitudes and not want see Jews in our classes and schools. If Jews in Israel have such "rights" why shouldn't we have the same right. This Israeli Jewish racism beings to have reached such levels that it will reflect to the attitude towards all Jews. Who wants to be friend with racists?
Believe it would be easier for an Israeli teen to follow classes in Jordan, than for Jordanian teen to follow classes in Israel.
I wonder where the Jewish children of the folk from the Israeli Embassy IN JORDAN go
It doesn't really matter what another country's policy is with respect to whose children will be hated on, but the question is, what is Israel's policy and is it reflective of its citizens wishes? Jordan, I understand is not a Democracy but a monarchy, Israel is a Democracy. The survey suggests that 50% woud deny the arab student a seat, but they are also denying the other 50% Israeli citizens who wouldn't mind to share a classroom. So what right does one Israeli have to enforce their limiting stance on the other? The public schools should be public and if some zealot fanatics don't like it, they can throw down for a private education on private property and teach whatever they want to themselves. It is naive and weak to determine your policy based on what people you have little respect for are doing.
Because Jews in the Western Countries actually recognize those Western Countries' right to exist ;) care to ask an Arab Israeli his thought's on Israel's right to exist? Your point is void.
but of course also completely illogical and very racist. Let's assume for a second that you are correct in your preposterous allegation that all Israeli Arabs want to see Israel destroyed (in itself the same kind of blood-libel that the Nazis used to dehumanize Jews). You want to deny these children education so that they will continue to live with their current (alleged) opinions which will negatively impact Israel? Did you actually think this through? You do know that the purpose of education is to foster productive members of society, right? But perhaps your plan involves some more direct "removal" of the people you think don't fit into the Jewish democracy...
If you have a slightly longer memory, you would know that Jews attended schools in most Arabic countries and were prominent traders and merchants in these countries. May I advise you to visit the Farhi house in Damascus previosuly owned by a Jewish family that was the strongest family in Syria and the region. This long heritage was only destroyed when a racist state CLAIMING to represent the Jews was established next door. Believe me, after the racist regime is eliminated, Jews are more than welcome to stay here even those who came from Europe and the US.
Do 96% of Israeli teens really want Israel to be a Jewish state, or did they somehow forget to ask the Arab part of Israel's population? Further down it is hinted that only Jewish youths were part of the survey, which makes the numbers more plausible and show how the Arabs are made invisible. Israeli=Jew.
to see how Arab Israeli students would answer those questions. How many would object sitting with Jewish students in the same class?
Please go ask and if the % is higher than 10% (it would even be that high), I will accept that there is nothing wrong with what the Israeli students said
Half of the Israelis are potential fascists !!! Obviously, the propaganda of the Israeli gov. works really good on its youngsters.
This is no racism, only the notice that having Arab students lowers the level of the whole class. And that's really not what we need right now. Where is the old Jewish elite?
Dan, if you substitute Arab for Jew and Jewish for German in your rant there, you'd fit right into to Germany, circa 1937.
illiterate..... that is all i have to say to you
If you hear all the day long the racist comments of the Jewish rabbis and of the politicians from the right and left and if you can watch, how the rights of the Palestinians are daily broken and misregarded, then it is quite normal for the young jews, that they as part of theGod´s chosen people can dominate others and can refuse equal rights to everybody.
they should be treated equally, you are right; while the jewish youth are obliged to go to the IDF, the arab israelisch should do the same or do a social service (like the orthodox jews should do) for two years. In that way there will a mutual feeling of respect.
now poll the parents
though it would be wrong to label this as a solely 'Israeli' problem - it isn't - if the same poll was conducted in the US, Europe, Russia, you would get much the same answers. Its a racist world, lets not try and make out Israel is the only guilty party in it.
to justify Israel, Israel is never wrong, right? There is nothing that could be done to educate these poor children so that they don't become racist like their parents, right? When will you ever learn from your mistakes?
Wait a second here! For a start 'Ahmet' I am not an Israeli and so I am not entirely sure to whom you are referring when you say 'you'. If you have read any other of my comments on the Haaretz site you will realise I am quite far from an Israeli apologist. My point was that children are racist, homophobic and prejudice - it is the sad state of the world we live in. Hence I am not surprised and nor am I willing to accept that this kind of racism is only prevalent in Israel. So, 'Ahmet' climb down off that very high horse you are riding and do not make assumptions about me or my 'justifications' of Israel - for the record, I make none.
I didn't think so.
but Israel should be judged on its own merits, not on those of somebody else.
Sorry, but I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Israel should be judged on its own merits? I don't understand; because I'm not an Israeli I can't judge Israel? Or do you mean that Israel shouldn't be compared to other countries when one is judging it? I genuinely don't understand, I'm not trying to provoke you or make a point here; its just that I genuinely don't understand what you mean.
you are saying that if you asked 500 american teenagers if arabs should be in their classes they'd respond the same as the israeli students? and further, they would say that people who question the US gov't should be stripped of citizenship?? wild speculation on your part.
i think we all know the sad answer to your question. but the point of modern democracies is to be better than totalitarian regimes, remember?
teenagers in the US are far less homophobic, racist and prejudice than their elders. This is known from polling and overwhelming anecdotal evidence. Children in the US today talk about their friends and when the parents finally meet them they see this friend was black, or asian or in the reverse. A wonderful development, and in stark contrast to the monochrome self regard of the Israeli mainstream. I think you hit "send" before really thinking this one through.
I really didn't. I know American homophobia. And justifying it by claiming that it is less prevalent than the previous generation sounds very much like the typical Israeli defence. 'We aren't the worst, so we are ok.' Its pathetic. What's more pathetic though is that people will single out Israel on an issue such as racism or homophobia, when there exists many other nations who hold equal comparisons.
I'm not Jewish nor do I live in Israel. I believe you are the one who is engaging in the usual israel-apologist trick of pointing the finger of blame elsewhere. Your claim that US teenagers are equally racist with their israeli counterparts is wholly unsubstantiated. And as faras homophobia is concerned, young people in the US are far less homophobic then their parents, and while i wish homophobia would completely vanish tomorrow, that's not likely to happen; nonetheless, it's on its way out and you should be glad that progress has been made. If you yourself have been a victim of teenage cruelty on this issue, I'm sorry. But it is getting much better (in the US and Europe. Another reason the bible-thumpers don't like US left or Europe)
These large negative percentages from a sample of Israeli youth are very disappointing. 93% are very keen on a Jewish Israel (as am I)but then express views that they don't want any of the burdens that follow from this idea. We can dismiss all this as the confusion and basic egocentricity of teenagers and hope it will fade with maturity. However, this is not certain to occur. What is certain is that this generation of the young will not care for the arabs, either Israeli or otherwise, while ever they see and hear hatred for Jews and Israel from arabs. This hatred will not stop, sadly, so it appears that Israel will eventually cast out from itself those who hate the state and the Jews. This breaks my heart, but who can blame them?
islamophobia is wrong at least that is what muslims have declared, but there never is anything wrong with Judeophobia. The poor kids have to deal with both concepts.
These large negative percentages from a sample of Israeli youth are very disappointing. 93% are very keen on a Jewish Israel (as am I)but then express views that they don't want any of the burdens that follow from this idea. We can dismiss all this as the confusion and basic egocentricity of teenagers and hope it will fade with maturity. However, this is not certain to occur. What is certain is that this generation of the young will not care for the arabs, either Israeli or otherwise, while ever they see and hear hatred for Jews and Israel from arabs. This hatred will not stop, sadly, so it appears that Israel will eventually cast out from itself those who hate the state and the Jews. This breaks my heart, but who can blame them?
"Who can blame them"? You're kidding right?
...someone, somewhere is worse. A great excuse for anyting twixt Heaven and Earth.
Your post tells us more than you'd care to imagine... "This hatred will not stop" Uh huh...sadly.
I give this escalated conflict 10 years. these teens will grow up, and realize that they don't want their children to go through what they had to. Israel is young as a democratic state and maturing. This week ETA called a cease fire, where is the IRA? Where is Europe as it was just 20 years ago. `67 is a long way away for me and even farther away for todays teens. Yes they are parroting the current garbage of Notinyahoo today, as he sits down with Palestinians to discuss peace. Tomorrow, these kids will have their own families, jobs, stuff vacation destinations and with it, an ego that will be more afraid of losing it all over a fight that, looking back, will make no sense. To the nay sayers: the difference this time, Israelis vacation in Turkey, Indai, Europe, US, Australia etc. Israel today is merging into a global economy and with it global cultural layer on top its own. it will eventually have to decide, open up and melt or close off and be isolated like N. Korea. Mind you, the rest of the world is losing patience and interest in the conflict, including young Jews not living in Israel, where will they get their financial and political support? no doubt this conflict is ending in my time!
I do watch it here from the West Bank. No I never watched an anti-Semitic program on it. But I see a lot of Islamophobic programs on Fox News.
You don't watch it doesn't mean they don't exist; it doesn't mean others don't watch it either. Fox News have Saudi funds, and is not Israeli media. Israeli media is, look here!