Ze'ev Boim's 'Arab genetics' slur sparks outrage

Ze'ev Boim, the deputy defense minister, yesterday created a firestorm of outrage by rhetorically asking: "What is it about Islam as a whole and the Palestinians in particular? Is it some form of cultural deprivation? Is it some genetic defect? There is something that defies explanation in this continued murderousness."

Boim's office issued a statement later in the day saying his comments, made at a memorial service for the victims of the 1978 coastal road massacre, were taken out of context. But the excuse fell largely on deaf ears as voices rose in the Knesset calling on him to retract and apologize at the very least, while others called for his resignation.

Jamal Zahalka, MK (Balad), responded: "Whoever says Palestinian behavior is caused by a genetic defect has a brain defect himself, as well as the values of a racist fascist ... Boim gives racism a bad name, and is returning to the same primitive, sickening and dangerous racism from which the Jews themselves suffered for many generations." Zahalka demanded that the law against racism be enforced on Boim.

Vilan Avshalom, MK (Meretz), also condemned Boim. "What is this, a Mein Kampf?" he said, demanding that Boim retract the statement. Vilan noted that

Boim was a high school principal before becoming a Likud politician, and said he was worried about the school system if that kind of racism was prevalent in school administrations.

Ophir Pines-Paz, MK (Labor), also called for Boim's resignation if he did not apologize, while Ahmed Tibi, MK (Hadash), said he'd prefer that Boim not resign, "because he's an asset to proving the Palestinian case that the Israeli government is embracing fascists."

However, Yehiel Hazan, MK (Likud), supported Boim. "What Ze'ev Boim said, it hasn't been researched, but according to my experience this is true. I think he is correct. It is well known that Arabs have been slaughtering and murdering Jews for more than a generation. I think this it is in their blood. It is something genetic. I have not researched this, but there is no other way to explain it." Hazan added, "don't believe an Arab, even one who has been in the grave for 40 years."

Meimad leader MK Rabbi Michael Melchior slammed the statements as racist and contrary to the tenets of Judaism. He likened them to claims of genetic flaws linked to Jews by the Nazis and others throughout history.

Ronni Bar On, MK (Likud) was one of the few MKs on the right who openly criticized Boim. "His comments are not worthy of anyone from the movement of Ze'v Jabotinsky, and certainly not of Jews, who in the past were labeled as genetically defective. As soon as genetics is mentioned, murder and other horrible things become allowed." Bar On called on Boim to apologize and retract his statement.

Mussawa, the Arab civil rights group, warned that the Boim remarks "opened the floodgates to racism."

	Yesterday's memorial service for victims of the coastal road attack.
	Photo by: Assaf Raivitz