Poll: Half of Israeli high schoolers oppose equal rights for Arabs

So you sish to descend to the level of extremists on both sides of the conflict, maybe look at Gandhi and Matin Luther King.....

If 'almost half' feel one way, doesn't that mean that 'more than half' feel the other? Is this a rising or a falling number? What conclusions can we really draw? As a practical matter, Arab-Israelis have many more rights than Jewish-(insert Arab country here.) While 'equal rights' is a noble goal, in a country that is surrounded by enemies waiting to pounce, 'half' supporting equal rights for cousins of sworn enemies seems quite remarkable. Equal rights for blacks in the US was 'mandated' only about 40 years ago, and it can hardly be said that it is even now a universal belief in the US. Hang in there, but teach 'equal rights.'

This is disgusting and horrifying.

The survey, which also revealed that a relatively high number of youth plan on voting and that democracy is still the preferred system of government.... Any Arab country can show anything remotely close ? Beside , the religious learned the lesson of Arab savagery and animosity toward the Jews . It is all regardless of how the lives of Arabs improved under Israeli rule . The secular suffer from fatigue and ready to leave for for sunnier places . Then all those numbers can change in a moment as Jews see the end of Arab intransigence , as it happened when they were mislead during Oslo and camp David .

If the German Reich wants to treat the Jew as a second class citizen and if they don't like it they can leave would you be oppose to that? Or Christian america? Or all of western countries really.....

These kids are a product of the environment in which they were raised. Walls, wars and tolerance of hatred will get you a racist next generation.

That is why I believe The Region will not escape a Major war!

Hi Moshe, It's so heartening to know what Judaism is all about: our tribe versus theirs. Good news indeed!

Is anyone else curious about where these youths acquired this racist point of view from? If such a large number of religious youths hold racist points of view, then isn't it a fair bet that such racist points of view are already well established among the people who raise and educate these kids? What does that say about Israel? It tolerates different points of views, which is great for democracy, but many feel that equal rights should be denied others on the basis of religion and ethnic background. That's not so great for democracy. But then, back in the days of National Party South Africa, we also didn't feel that black people deserved equal rights simply because they were of a different race. That in itself wasn't Apartheid, but it certainly was racist. So, is racism OK then? Perhaps it is ok when there is an existential threat attached to the demographic problem, right? Well, we also said that black people would drive us into the sea if they could. So Apartheid was really ok was it?

The author of the article mentioned that they interviwed also Arab respondents. I am wondering what their answers were if they are so carefully avoided in the article.

Shame on Haaretz for publishing all those articles full of hatred and incetement towards Israel and Jews in Israel. HOW DARE YOU CALL ISRAEL AN APARTHEID STATE!!! If you live in Israel (as you state), you are well aware of the fact that Arabs have exactly the same rights as Jews. And don't start telling me stories about poor Arabs who do not have proper infrastructure in their villages, etc. You know very well that the majority of Arabs are taking pride in not paying municipal taxes. So, where can you take the money from for infrastructure? You ncan tell me also stories about the unemployment in the Arab sector. Right, there is a higher unemployment than in the Jewish sector. Because the Arabs chose to have their own educational system and in many villages they do not want teach their children Hebrew. How can you expect them to succeed in life without the language?

Only 39% of secular students oppose equal rights? That is a shockingly high number. It clearly reflects a society that has demonized minorities. How ironic and how tragic.

Unfortunately Israeli society is compartmentalised. There are different school systems for diferent segments of the population - all of which have one thing in common - the promotion of feelings of WE and THEM (WE are decent right thinking people. WE are not THEM. If only THEM could be like WE then THEM would be ok.) and preventing the creation of an all encompassing US who recognizes that some of US are diferent from others of US and that different means different, not better, not worse just different.

Just another story reinforcing the fact israel is an apartheid state.

... Out of your assess that is a disgusting pole and I am glad that you currently cam not excercise your right to sufferage when you are old enough I hope yo wil matures and gotten wiser. The last paragraph notes it well and offers some hope that this might be an age and maturity issue, I hope so Israel Haredim are great but you must control a few things, notably the fact that majority of despondants who opposed Arab mks were religious if I read correctly that is a seriously divisive divde that must be mended

Prof Daniel Bar-Tal advance the assumption that due to lack of "not internalised basic democratic values" is due to the result or a polling as to whether Israeli-Arabs should receive same benefits and rights as the rest of other Israel citizens. Well, in an ideal world when some obligations are not needed (peace, sharing the same law and order...), and they become optional, there iwill be no need to argue with the difference between full fledged citizen in Israel society: However, the young people are aware of the fact that they "pay" more of their time and resource, to keep Israel Democratic by submiting to those sacrifices. Now, I wish that peace and general consensus as to the legitimacy of Israel as a Jewish State is shared by all citizens, by according to the same values esposed by the majority of Israelis, allow the young to make a certain mature distinction between their obligations and their ability to uphold democratic values.

I got my case for the attitudes being on the other side as well from - of all things - Flickr photos. I looked up groups concerning Israel (there's a nice bunch of pix concerning Israel, showing everyday life in the country) and then Palestine. The photos concerning Palestine were considerably darker, in poorer (and dirtier) areas and full of images and stories of people being mistreated or roughly treated by the IDF, as well as anti-Israel protests. How can such an overtly anti-Israel protest culture not rub off on the youngsters? And the green line wall looks pretty sinister to those folks, too.

But we know otherwise. They attempt to make themselves appear to be the victims of "arab hatred" but I know by many of the attitudes here in the talkbacks that hatred of arabs, hatred of muslims in particular is taught at home without the need for a Palestinian mouse on television. Jewish people have been very good with orally passing down many things , not just religion.

Every Arab denied civil rights becomes a potential terrorist.Is this that hard to understand.The circle of violence is only widened by the inability to incorporate some minimal wisdom in planning.Israel is slowly but surely losing its right to exist as a country.

This would not happen. This is a natural response to the ground situation. Arab MK intriguing with the Pals. They feel Arab Palestinian for most of them but when you say then you will be Palis citizenship like Um El fahm they say no. This is their problem. They are still dreaming of arab sovereignty. Nothing to do with racism just answer to nasty behavior.

Israel has been very foolish in relation to the Israeli Arabs. In its mad pursuit of trendy left 'feel goodism' Israel has let too much be gained by the Israeli Arabs for no effort on their part. They should not be allowed their own political parties. Arab candidates should be contained on the lists of the Zionist parties. The vote for Arab Israelis should only be given to those who serve in some Israeli state service body, not just zahal.(This could apply to everyone.) Those who are really unhappy should simply be given life time permanent residence qualifications and not burdened with Israeli citizenship. They should certain NOT be given a basket full of civic goodies without giving something in return. Enough with being friars!

to support peace-efforts, to be against the racisism, to support the freedom of religion, to support the equality of people whatever their race, religion ,sex ,origin...To treat the others (f.e Palestinians) like you would like to be treated yourself These are very often the values of the so called "leftists". These values are nothing to do with jewish values? Or they are somehow agaisnt the Torah?

Surely? But what are the reasons? The children are the "mirrors" of the attitudes of the surroundings.Or... whose attitudes are more understandable?

Then we have the guts to preach the world over the holocaust

We need to nip this attitude in the bud, on both sides of the Green Line (Palestinians have the same attitude about Jews), - Concernedjew I am in agreement with ur post, but why and how did u conclude that palestinians have the same attitude?

Isn*t it SELF-EVIDENT that OF COURSE Arabs and all other minorities in Israel have equal rights with the Jews!!! If Israeli high schoolers think differently Israel*s future looks worrisome! The Israeli laws *MUST* quarantee equal everything to everybody in the Land of Israel and thereby honor G-D of Israel! This poll is SHOCKING news! Adjustments to public school education system are needed and fast, if there are such distorted views among Israeli teens. Aren*t they taught any democratic and Torah-values??? My alarm bells are off, aren*t yours?

Unfortunately these results dont suprise me at all.Together with declining educational standards we see a parallel decline in moral values.The future does not seem very bright, unless radical changes are to be made.

Even though the left has done everything in its power to make sure young Jews do NOT internalize authentic Jewish values, these values are proving impossible to stop. The fact that the left tries to paint any Jew who believes in God, the Torah and the Covenant as a "dangerous extremist" proves the bankruptcy of their ideas.

This is the sort of attitude that led to the Holocaust- the idea that someone should be discriminated against simply because he/she is a member of x group. Already we're hearing numerous claims that Israel is an apartheid state and a genocide state. We need to nip this attitude in the bud, on both sides of the Green Line (Palestinians have the same attitude about Jews), because it is harmful to everybody in the Levant.

not a surprise is it? i'd be surprised if it was any different. good luck Israel with another generation ready to go forward in the spirit of racism that has become the hallmark of Israel.

than the obstinate decision to choose building over peace. This does not bode well for Israel's future at all.

Going to give us the old---but they do worse in googo or rabo --or dingyland. Get it psm---half of your school children are racists ---and who is brainwashing them---???. gee I thought that was an Arab thing. It is over for "the zionist entity---finito---ende---kaput. No loss