A racist Jewish state

To leftist fascists, racists and traitors Israel is racist against Jews and is not democratic, since it is ruled by subversive leftist fifth column, murderers of Jews with Arab hands. Arabs are not a race and cannot be discriminated. All lands up to Iraqi border have been designated for Jewish Homeland by int. agreements, hence there is no place for Arab occupants here and they have no legal or land rights here and must go back to totalitarian and terrorist Muslim states they came from

Jordan is pretty much the only state that worth looking at it in the middle east!! i wish both Isarel and whatever other state you call next to Israel can be as humble and safe as jordan!! you sound like you have some issues against Jordan Omar!!

And any opposition to that right is racism pure and simple. For once Arabs take control of Israel, in whatever way, they will eliminate the Jews from it. So this article is racism in disguise.

Haaretz is an anti semitic organ for all those who want to trash Israel and it's Jewish values. The JNF was funded by Jews for Jews and will always be for that purpose only. All Haaretz does is breed continuous hatred against it's own people. They are simply the "Erev Rav" who made the golden calf and are just perpetuating it today. Haaretz will be long gone from the scene and the fulfillment of the Jewish State for the Jewish people will prevail.

The JNF is a private organization and purchased lands for a specific purpose, to provide and beautify these lands for Jews in Palestine. I don't see how this constitutes racism. Don't get me wrong, there is much to be critical of the Israeli government and its land use policies, but this is not a good example. I would also like to point out to the defenders of prejudicial Israeli policy that while it is true other countries exist whose constitutions are ethno-centric or adopt a national religion (like Japan or Saudi Arabia) they do not face the same situation as Israel. Israel has a significant (20-25%) non-Jewish population who are native to Israel, has a significant number of non-Jews native to Israel that wish to return yet cannot, and has a Jewish population that is composed primarily of people having emigrated from Europe. These circumstances are the circumstances that combine to create the magnitude of the issue in Israel

In all of your examples, i can see similarities including Israel. JNF, maybe it did purchase the land. But it purchased STOLEN Land to begin with. The "state" of is only still trying to stand on its own 2 feet, it is still trying to build its own social infrastructure. So All the land of the "State" of israel is STOLEN. Lets get the facts and the base straight before we argue about other things. The existence of the state of israel is racist as a jewish homeland ontop of an Arab homeland that consisted of Jews Christians and Muslims. It WAS the holy land, now its just a murder scene because of the creation of this unstable country called israel

to dr david your line of reasoning is ridiculous. you are looking at this from a might is right prespective and that never nor will it ever lead anywhere except more wars. now as for land stolen and right of return, i don't not see the US committing apartheid, nor do i see the australians occupying the aborinis, and i certainly don't see the british give second class citizen to the African population residing in their homeland and yet what i see is israel committing all these atrocities, so there is definitely a clear distinction between the racist israeli state and the rest of the world

I am sick and tired of all this whining over the treatment of Arabs, Muslims, whatever. There are 22 (if memory serves)Arab states in the Middle East that are all Muslim countries. Does it strike no one as disingenuous and hypocritcal to call Zionism racism. To critcize Israel for every little "mistep" I have read of Arabs being killed by their won people for selling their land to Jews. Do we hear a peep out of the press about that? There are other countries in that area of the world, that havae a Muslim presence and "they" want those countries declared Muslim, even though there are other religions. Bah, I'm sick of demanding Israel be held to a standard which no other country is expected to meet. If that's racism, too bad.

right, Vatican is a catholic place, Saudi Arabia is a muslim place, why cannot jews have their JEWS ONLY state? even non jews have rights, I bet a jew in S Arabia has no rights at all

I was also starting to think that New York was home of the most bigoted and racist people on earth. There you gave me hope, and it is true that some american jewishs are polluting israelis online newspapers with all their hate, bigotry and prejudices, giving a pitiful image of israel sympathizers abroad.

i kinda like him/her(being anon i'm not sure). the reason goes back a ways...long story...has to with magic mushrooms, puff the dragon, and a nonsensical charade. although i get the feeling sometimes that the affinity is just this optimism of mine, sighhhh... i don't really think he/her cares for me much... just for me having an opposing view which of course sucks although what else is new? but hey! i do keep an open mind so i won't ever stop trying just to get him/her once to concede that things are cool twixt he/she and me alas...in regards to the "naked shorters" you mention; i haven't a clue. that's a question you'll have to take up with paul harris himself; although i've noticed that his response to you was posted before mine, in which he's chosen to deny knowing you which of course doesn't necassarily mean that it's true. so i bid thee good luck in finding soon the paul harris that you seek to discuss those shorter nudes iya...errr..."naked shorters" i mean!

why do you fault haaretz for reporting the news in a way that's unskewed for whatever acts are perpetuated against jews? no act of violence or repression or persecution or indignity is justified anywhere nor is it justified against anyone. i don't believe haaretz is the cause of the instances of which you speak. it sounds to me like what you'd prefer is a media source that bends and skews the news, and hides the truth and denies it to suit you. if you needs some links to jewish propaganda sites i'll be happy to send them to you; but don't condemn haaretz for telling the truth. and if you feel something's to blame for the incidents you claim, other than "antisemitism" in its TRUE form; try looking at israel and the repression, persecution, indignity, and hardships it conceives against the palestinians; and direct your plea towards IT! place the fault where it belongs, kate; don't blame the bearer of truth.

if what you is true...lol...which i suspect it's not; then the land you claim the jnf bought was bought from people who did not have ownership; ie: it was land scam!...and those lands therefore do NOT belong to the state of israel and should be returned immediately to turkey. paying that little extra little up front for a survey and title insurance would have made a big difference. so when do you expect these fraudulantly bought lands to be returned to turkey. the world needs to know in light of this revelation of yours. oh but wait! there were jewish peasants, too. wouldn't that also mean that the jewish palestinians who also resided there along with their muslim neighbors had no ownership to the land they occupied? this really does bring up an interesting question; doesn't it? no no no...never mind. for your logic to be valid; israel would have had to replace the ottoman empire; which it did not. and the british mandate recognized the palestinians ownership of lands and...oh never mind; your whole line of reasoning amounts to naught! nice try...but with loopholes it's totally fraught! p.s.-would you please tell paul harris for me, about this bad news. he's likely to take it better coming from you. oh...and sorry to bust your bubble but i know you'd prefer the truth.

Albert, I understand all too well the typical zionist tactic of shouting: "Don't look at ISRAEL! Look over THERE! Over THERE!" whenever the truth starts to get in the way of a nice, convenient piece of Israeli propaganda. I've seen it used often enough. Paul Harris and Gil are both misrepresenting the true nature of the JNF's land holdings, and I am correcting them. And you don't like that - it conflicts with your own cosy self-image of Israel, of course - so your response is not to challenge the points that I raise, but to point Somewhere Else and shout: "Don't look at ISRAEL! Look over THERE! Over THERE!" Pathetic, Albert. Truly pathetic.

Johnny, time to shut up !! why don't you just poke your nose into how your ancestors grabbed the australian land from the aborigins? so try to resolve your own territorial problems instead of giving opinions on others' affairs. Give me the example first, man !! give back you land to the aborigins and we will think our problem over..... on your example !!

It may come as a shock to you, but Europe is bigger than France. And only in France Arabs are a sizeable minority. So there won't be much to talk about in ten years time, whatever your French / Arab media might say. The worst mistake WE made, Serenity, was to let so many Arabs into Europe and give them civil rights, as their thanks was only social unrest, violence and terror threat. And before you start comforting yourself with any thoughts of grand Arab attacks against Europe, dream on. The Arabs will destroy themselves before that, just look at Iraq. And what is that paranoid: 'YOU' wanted the war in Iraq, 'YOU' were in a bad position in Europe for centuries, 'YOU' will lose the next war? Do you really believe there is a Jew behind every bush? Just for your information: I am not Jewish, but like millions of my fellow-Europeans, I consider Israel to be 'US' and Arabs to be 'THEM'. You are one of THEM...

A war of independendence against Egypt, Jordan, Syria, et al.? No question, Gil. But the State of Israel did not steal land off the Egyptians, Jordanians, Syrians, etc., to sell to the JNF for a tuppence. She stole that land off the Palestinian Arabs of the Mandate territory, and she had no right to steal that land. Read the article, Gil, even at the time Ben Gurion knew that the State had no right to confiscate and sell that land, and it was sold to the JNF precisely so that it would place that illegally-confiscated land out of the reach of the refugees should there be a political settlement of Right of Return. So sorry, Gil, but your "argument" is nothing but a hollow attempt to excuse the inexcusable.

Most aboriginal tribes do not support the zionist racist cause,our european leaders which do not include one treaty native make the rules here.Yes bloomberg and silvermen are gung ho to rape the riches of america to supprt your prophesy.I dont see to many jews who understand what we went through,they are to busy monopoliseing the victim role,so you could trample on others rights,but good luck with that.

John boy I insist because there was a war of independence in the middle Mr. John boy and that makes all the difference! Read my second post to you (# 422) and maybe you will also understand why!

Many people cannot stand the truth. To cover up their embarassment, they resort to lies and name calling. This is what you are doing here. The Palestinians are paying Jizya to Israel and the "Kosher state" does not even protect them. Instead they are being denied every right and are constantly being killed! The Jews who used to pay Jizya to Islamic states were given full protection and were even exempted from the military service. The fact that when the Catholic Spain overran the Muslims in Iberia, the Jews decided (on their own) to emigrate to other Islamic states. Why do you think they did that although they knew they had to pay Jizya? Read History!

Under the best of circumstances the Jewish state is going to be a racist state. It deserves to go the way of South Africa's Apartheid regime.

Nick you seem to forget it was the British who violated the Balfour declaration resulting in their ousting from the middle east. You also ignore that in 48 @ STATES were created Israel for Jews - Jordan ( the Lions share) for the arabs. The current crisis in the middle east is the result of ARAB AGRESSION against Israel - and Israels captureing lands in its DEFENSIVE battles. You also ignore the trhousands of Jews evicted from Arab countries who had their lands STOLEN and belongings confiscated - BUT - condem Israel for BUYING LAND - alittle one sided in your opinion?

I know a man named Paul Harris that is a wonderful man.....He also goes by Rufus so when I saw a Rufus & then a Paul Harris I was shocked & excited... "My" Mr. Harris is also very knowledgable with world happening & government so that's why I was wondering....Thank you.... How about those naked shorters? (My Mr. Harris would love to discuss that subject!)

My facts are fine, Gill. This article http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/864483.html details the JNF purchase of "acquired" Arab land from the Israeli State. "The first deal was clinched on January 27, 1949. It included the sale of a million dunams of abandoned land in various areas in return for about 18 million Israeli pounds." "In October 1950, the government sold another million dunams to the JNF, and in this fashion, about 40 percent of the abandoned lands were transferred to its possession." Your argument is transparently false; you insist that because the SOURCE OF THE FUNDS was legit then the entire transaction MUST be legit. It wasn't. The illegality came about because: a) Ben Gurion was selling land that did not belong to the State of Israel and b) The JNF purchased it KNOWING that the seller did not actually have legal title to the land he was selling. It had nothing to do with where the JNF was finding the money to PAY for its ill-gotten gains.

Now I do not believe you are the man I know as Paul Harris....if you could answer this, are you from the Guardian or Observer & have you ever heard of Conversion Solutions? Thank you sir....

are jews blowing themselves up, and trying to set up an independent country in Paris or NY? Are jews shooting rockets at Barcelona or Washington? check reality, Ann, come to planet earth ! the moon is not the real place to live, GROW UP, girl !!!

I will not investigate the origins of the term ANTISEMITIC, but everybody understands it is ONLY against jews in my country. Perhaps nobody bothered to hate arabs when the term was born. So this is no discussion, nobody cares about the meaning but what it is used for. Life is not a Language Course, it is just practice.

good for you

"allows for further expressions of discrimination. For example, the establishment of a university only for Jews on JNF land, or a hospital, or a movie theater" Oh, come ON! Thas has never happened and will not happen! Tel Aviv was founded as a Jewish city, but has never created Jews-only universities, theaters or hospitals. Where is your head, haaretz? Jews from all around the world contributed money for the settlement of Jews, and those lands are Jewish. No Arab that I know has ever put a shekel for the JNF!

It's hard to make an exact analogy, but here in Britain we have the Agudath Israel Housing Association that builds reasonably priced housing for low income members of the Jewish community. They have enjoyed the support of H M Government -- Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher joined Chief Rabbi Lord Jakobovits in opening Schonfeld Square, a complete Orthodox Jewish housing project in London. Even in the 'Peoples Republic of Hackney' this form of 'discrimination' was acceptable.

/#2 Mr. John boy one thing you forget is after Israel has declared it?s independence there was a war by which Arab countries have attacked Israel, most (but not all) Arab villages that have been on the land have took an active part against the Jewish state. So I don?t feel no remorse if we confiscated land of those villages that at the end fled the country, no not at all! By the way have you considered that some of the land owned by KKL-JNF is land that has been in the hands of the British mandate (Army bases, barracks, landing fields, swamps in the north, desert in the south, ext.) or the option that technically the Arabs haven?t owned most of the land, but they could have owned it if only they would have bought it from the Turks (getting ownership over it)? John Boy Please remember you are just a bystander, and we don?t have the time playing games, this is our life you are messing with! p.s Haartz I haven?t used foul language so stop censoring me (5ft time sent)!

Racism clearly applies only to conflicts between different races. See an English dictionary! bIt is a terrible and oft repeated lie to call Jews or Arabs racist against each other, as they are mainly of the same Semitic race, with closely related Semitic languages and other cultural confluences. They often easily disguise as one another and are cousins, biblical and actual. Thus, the term anti-Semitic is a stupid, dated and dangerous misnomer when applied to Jews alone - as both Arabs and Jews are Semitic. This term is the biggest PR flop for Jews by far. Think about it. The term must be dropped at once. Anti-Jew is what was really meant by it anyway. Call the conflict religious, ethnic, territorial, tribal or family feud - but it is not, and has never been, racist! Israelis - wake up and stop shooting yourselves in the foot!

Its not theirs to give since they stole it from the Palestinians.

John boy Your figures are incorrect, Yes KKL-JNF owns 2.5 million dunam of land, But how clever of you to make the mistake of how much was purchased from Arabs how set on the ground before 1948, and how much has been purchased from the Israeli government immediately after the war of 1948. Well here are the real figures About one million and a quarter dunam (not half a million dunam) were acquired by KKL-JNF by means of money contributed by Jews all over the world before the State of Israel was founded. Another million and a quarter dunam (not 2 million Dunam) of land were purchased by KKL-JNF in the early years of the State and paid for in full, again by means of donations from Jews throughout the world. These were regular property deals in every way, on the strength of which full and complete ownership of this land passed into the hands of KKL-JNF, and the State has no part in it or right of possession over it. Continued #2

he's a grumpy settler who has tendency to yell at everyone and posts comments that tend to be erroneous and singleminded and which are most often totally unconnected to what he comments on. he claims to be a dispeller of myths although all the dispelling he does is WITH myths; the presumed effectiveness and purpose of which i've have never quite understood. i'm also under the impression that he has a fancy for magic mushrooms, which of course is only an assumption on my part based on his apparent fixation with them. he is however, a good friend of mine and he and i get along just fine; although he isn't so apt to admit it. as to what he does for a living...besides his online driveling...that i don't know. but i wish you the best of luck in ascertaining if he's a friend you know... heck...he and i go back ways...and he won't admit it to me; but you may have a bit more luck than i; and he IS a sweetheart of a guy.

and i'll concede YOUR point; jnf funds were used to make the desert blossom... because it sure the hell wasn't needed to buy the land anymore. that effort stopped in 1948 as soon israel declared itself a state and overran half of what was to be palestine, forcing 750-800,000 palestinians to flee their homes and farmland. where exactly do you think the refugees came from? and do you think they were paid for their land? it wasn't just the swamp lands of galilee! and it really doesn't matter what the land looks like today compared to then...it was wrongfully taken...just as its being wrongfully taken today. and do you think that the palestinians couldn't have made "the desert blossom" if they had the constant influx of money from a diaspora financing them and if they were free to operate their orchards and farms and to engage in free and unfettered trade? as to my assertions to the article here at haaretz...your response prompted me to find it: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/864483.html

Leaving aside the rights and wrongs of the matter, it is inflammatory articles like this that have fed directly into the tsunami of anti-Semitism that is sweeping across Europe. Let me be even more blunt: when Jewish academics are harassed in the UK and Jewish children and rabbis are beaten on the streets of Paris and Brussels, it is Haaretz which is in large part responsible for these outrages. If Israel were only Haaretz then I would be cheering on Hamas for I no more care about the individuals associated with this newspaper than former employees of Julius Streicher.

THAT ARABS OWNED NO LAND IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

I AM A DISPELLER OF MYTHS ANCIENT AND MODERN !

What about jewish land and property that was taken from jews in Arab countries? From Maroco to Iraq , are these countries will return the land or compansate the owners? Lets list all the land that belonged to jews in these countries , I hope some of the ARABS can comment on that.

Does anyone know what he does for a living? Just curious, I'm trying to find out if he is the Paul Harris that I know... How about Rufus? Is Rufus here?

the question raised is that you cannot call arabs from surrounding countries palestinians , nor can you create them out of thin air. prior to 1967 the only palestinians were jews, and those in gaza were egyptians with egyptian id ,those in the west were likewise jordanians ! the fact that you havent the faintest idea of what you write is not my problem

Sounds great Sam, in most arab countries natives can buy land regardless of their religion errrmmm the natives are all muslim. oh yeah the jews in morocco,lebanon etc etc can buy land...850,000 Jews in 1947 are now down to 25,000 total....they aren't buying anything anywhere. As to what I was saying about the arabs in Israel nt being willing to meet the most basic requirement of citizenship that you would demand in your hometown, nahhh that's okay. JNF land only to Jews???? oyyyyyyy that's racism. broaden your horizon a little and look at the bigger picture if you can take your blinders off. If not, that's okay too because at the end of the day it really doesn't matter. You see the ethnic cleansing of Jews in the middle east happened without a peep of moral outrage out of you so clearly your moral compass is warped from the outset.

This corrupt group of bums called the JNF directors make enormous salaries, for example the US director makes over $350,000 US a year plus over a 100,000 more in living expenses. Dozens of other top JNF employees in Israel, US, UK, France, and Canada enjoy similar benefits, making theses jobs the the most highly desired political appointments any con artist with enough protectzia can ever dream of getting. And all those poor innocent little jewish kids dropping dimes and pennies in blue boxes think it goes to plant trees. And if this were not enough, now they are asking for the most racist, the most openly apartheid-jimmy-carter-proving-right present to our enemies law imaginable. If anything will finally convince Diaspora Jews to stop this ridiculous practice of sending charity to the filthy-rich, budget-surplus running country of Israel instead keeping the Jewish charity money in the Diaspora where it belongs, it is this sickeningly hate filled bigoted bill.

I know who I am, and I live in Texas. My grandfather immigrated to Texas over one hundred years ago, and his brother immigrated to Argentina over one hundred years ago. My cousins live in La Plata, Rosario, Buenos Aires, and Mendoza. You can let your friends in Argentina know that we have a website in Idish. Click on Forward.com, and then Yiddish radio. This week, there is a recording of the famous Chazzan Yossele Rosenblat singing ELI ELI. Most North American Jews have forgotten who we are, but not all of us.

Peter said: "Jews can only purchase property where? lebaonon? nope kuwait? nope joedan? nope saudi arabia? nope" My responce: In most of the Arab countries foreigners do not have the right to buy land. At the same time natives can buy land regardless of their religion. Arab countries which allow foregners to own lands do not have restrictions on Jews, and few of them will have restrictions on Israeli's as they do not have diplomatic relations with Israel. In Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Morrocow, and Iraq all Jews who chose not to immigrate to Israel have full rights of ownership. Even some governments as in Syria are very protective about their Jewish communities as they help the regime to maintain an image of plurality. The Syrian government did not wanted its Jewish community to leave the country but had to let them go under US pressure, and most of them immigrated to the US not to Israel.

my my my! what a novel analogy! i bet you picked that up here in the talkbacks didn't you? but you should also know by now that it's completely moot and has no bearing on what is happening today in israel and the occupied territories. i would give you a list of differences in the two situations, of which there are plenty; but if YOU gave it any thought i'm sure you can come up with them yourself(by the way; i'm married to an american indian...that's one right off the bat!). so anyway...i'd say "nice try", except that the "guilt displacement" ploy runs amok in these talkbacks and i surely wouldn't want to encourage it any. and by the way, please don't presume to know what i say, or think, about ANY situation that involves injustice and the abuse of human rights; because you really haven't a clue. and besides; the "everyone-picks-on-us-and-no-one-else" ploy is getting a little bit old, too. but in light of the current topic rich, the question is:will rich be honest and consistent and condemn this blatant racist colonialist land theft?

Well said. Although I have to higlight that the state should not have an ethnic or religious character so it could accomodate all of its citizens. At the end all what really matters is the human being, not the idiology of some.

I sent u a reply but something unusual happened to it. So I'll briefly resummarize it. Judging things in vacuo, as it is said in physics, derives some principles but will not solve a single practical problem. France, Russia etc r states with an old stable populace, culture, tradition to which one can expect principles enunciated by the UN to be FULLY implementable. Since Israel does not have this privilege, expecting it to apply these without special circumventing language is a practical folly ; we generally call it antisemitism when applied to Israel's problems. Anti-zionists, Palestinian propogandists will take ur side of the debate; have no doubt about it.

Can you imagine what would happen if there were a law against renting property to Jews in Europe or the US?

I will concede your point that not all of the money acquired and spent by the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemet l'Yisrael) went solely for the purchase of land in Eretz Israel. For your information, much of the land, especially in the Galilee, was malaria-infested swamps. The swamps had to be drained in order to make the surface suitable for agriculture. The land when acquired by the JNF did not look like the land looks today. In addition, the JNF helped cause the desert land to bloom.

first of all, no one said "arabs". i know those of your ilk enjoy refering to the palestinians as "arabs" in your pathetic pretense that they don't exist; but your little slight of words does NOT circumvent their existance, nor does change the reality of their displacement by the founders of israel and the theft of their land in the process. secondly; your perception of history is so skewed i wouldn't even know where to begin setting it on track. so i'll not bother. i do suggest however that you spend some time reading before making such grandiose declarations. yours is the most abbreviated and simplistic view i've ever had dumped on me. nuff said. have a nice day!

So this is what you want, a Jewish Vatican. It's still possible to have it in the Meah Shearim quarter, but do not force it on all Israelis. Your arguments are totaly out of place and hypocritical. You devest yourself of all responsibility for injustice by naming God the perpetrator.(Did God also order Menachem Begin to blow up the King David wing? Your God does not seem to adhere to His own laws. Remember how Abraham chastised God: "Will the judge of the universe himself commit injustice?" Most of Israelis and certainly the diaspora jews don't want a theocracy. They just want to live in peace in whatever portion of the Land of Israel is legally theirs and have a legally elected government.

shut up, americans do not know even if the are ashkenazi or sephardic, so ignorant they are !!! And do not talk about judaism, you know nothing of it, you just think it is like being a fan of the Lakers, or Giants.

so what? we want israeli land for jews, and we do not care what the world/arabs/whoever says, as gentiles do not give reasons for their behaviour. Don't you like it? WE DO NOT CARE !!!

VH: "your lack of specifics is appalling !" Then I demand you give details of every dunam of land "legally" purchased by the JNF, and every shekel of money spend by the JNF in each purchase, and detail the name and address of every arab whom the JNF purchased that land from. Coz, you know, if you and Paul are going to demand THAT degree of detail from ME than I should be able to demand THAT degree of detail from YOU. I have already provided a link http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/864483.html and it provides quite enough detail to refute Paul Harris' claim that the JNF purchased all of it's land "legally" i.e. the JNF owns 2.5 million dunams of land. Of that total, 2 million were never purchased from Arabs, but were sold to the JNF for a pittance by the State of Israel, that land never having BELONGED to the State but was CONFISCATED by the State. Now, do you refute that statement, or are you simply going to continue to play your silly game of "show me the money!"???

When Palestinians refused to sell you jews our land, you jews became violent and used force to STEAL our land.

Americans are fed up with israel and its racist policies. END ALL ECONOMIC AID TO ISRAEL, NOW!

Moshe Rivlin served as director general and chairman of the board of the JNF for 21 years, from 1977 until January 1998. When he retired the organization created a new position for him and he became the “president for life” of the JNF. This position came with valuable benefits such as a car, chauffeur, office services, hotel and dining expenses and hospitality expenses. The expenses incurred by this position are estimated to be more than $245,000 per annum. In November 1998, Rivlin was forced to resign his position following the publicizing of his embezzlement of cash from the coffers of the JNF totaling $100,000. Now these thieves are pushing an openly racist, apartheid law that is a dream come true for all the enemies of the Jewish people, who will use this sick law to attack us world wide. I say, Jews !!, Stop giving your charity to corrupt Israeli racists, and spend it on your own diaspora institutions, which need it far more than these spoiled rotten rich Israeli schorrers.

On November 30, 2006, Jimmy Carter said the following to CNN's Anderson Cooper: "Inside Israel, there's no semblance of apartheid. It's a wonderful democracy, with everyone treated the same. Arabs and Jews, both have the same privileges. There's no allegation of any kind of discrimination. But inside Palestine, outside of Israel, where the Israelis occupying forces are there, the persecution and deprivation of the Palestinians is horrendous. And that's the only thing I address in my book." In his December 2006 Letter to Jewish Citizens of America, Carter reiterated that his use of the word apartheid does not apply to circumstances within Israel.

40,000 Americans are killed because of traffic accidents every year. Yet when 3,000 were killed by Islamic Extremists in 2001, we went to Iraq and started a war, as the people in America were full of rage, and they wanted to attack someone. Since 9/11, almost 250,000 Americans have died in traffic accidents. That does not justify the bombing of the World Trade Center. I don't understand you're perspective. Are you saying that since so many Americans die in traffic, Americans should not be enraged when their lives are snuffed out by Al Quaeda? Are you saying that since Palestinians die of other causes, it is ok for Israelis to kill them?

and no one calls 'RACISM'. In the land dispute between Jews and Arabs, the Arabs have skilfully harnessed the wests liberal affinity for human rights to their propaganda machine. So when they shout RACISM they are doing what is expected of them. When the Goim join them its either ignorance or Antisemitism. When Jews join them, particularly Israeli ones, its either dumb or meshuge.

The JNF has been repeatedly exposed in Israeli and American newspapers for being corrupt. Nearly all the money the JNF raises in the US stays in the US to support the rich lifestyles of the JNF employees. They lie to naive US Jews that the money will go to Israel to buy land, plant trees etc., but in fact 100% of the donated money is spent on gigantic salaries and living expenses for the JNF representatives. In addition Israel has many billionaires who give almost nothing to Israeli charities, and the country itself is running a budget surplus in the billions. Meanwhile our diaspora synagogues and cultural centers are dying and assimilation is running wild to the point where the disapora Jewish people will soon disappear . We Jews outside of Israel are sick & tired of seeing all our charity money go to corrupt racist Israeli thieves like the JNF while truly needy Jewish charities in the diaspora are staving for donations. ENOUGH !!!

the only "hypocrisy" in the Middle East.

you are a bigot. pals are killing for selling land to jews - any land ( and for leasing too). we do restrict only lands that belongto JNF - jewish national fund-, all about 13% for use for non jews, since it is not gov. lands but private fund lands bought most before 1948.

In Ottoman times the wide stretches of land lying beyond the perimeters of cities, towns and villages - the 'dry belt' for grain and cotton - technically belonged to the state. Peasants did not have a legal right to full private ownership, but had usufruct rights as long as they did not allow these lands to lie fallow for more than three years. This right of use had no time limit and the land could be and was passed down through inheritance for generations. In return for its use, peasants paid taxes. Thus the essential character of the relationship of the peasants in Palestine to their land was, that they considered it their own. Over the centuries each clan and village became identified with particular lands, which they treated as their private property regardless of the changing faces of the tax collectors. Court cases registered in the 18th and 19th century show peasants of Jabal Nablus for instance disposing of nominally state lands as if they were their private property.

Your post is typical of the way Jews are defined, and certainly the way Jews are defined by Israel...as a nationality. You say that Greeks, The Czechs, The Slovaks, etc., have a right to make a state, but you simply forgot that the aforementioned are not religions, and that Greeks, Slovaks, Czechs, etc. are people of various religions, including Jews, so please don't say that you're not aware of that. But as usual, Jews are usually defined as being a distinct group who have no nationalities, ethnicities,races, but are just Jews.

There is a desire to equate Zakat with Jiziyah to emphasize the fairness of the Islamic fiscal system. The Muslims pay Zakat and the non-Muslims Jiziyah. But the analogy is fallacious. The rate of Zakat tax is as low as 2.5 per cent and that on the apparent property only. All kinds of concessions are given in Zakat with regard to nisah or taxable minimum. In its collection no force is applied because force vitiates its character. On the other hand, the rate of Jiziyah is very high for the non-Muslims- 48, 24, and 12 silver tankahs for the rich, the middling and the poor, whatever the currency and whichever the country. Besides, what is central to Jiziyah is the humiliation of infidel always, particularly at the time of collection. What is central in Zakat is that it is voluntary; at least it cannot be collected by force. In India Zakat ceased to be a religious tax imposed only on the Muslims. Here Zakat was levied in the shape of customs duties on merchandise and grazing fee on all milk-producing animals or those which went to pasture, and was realized both from Muslims and non-Muslims. According to the Islamic law, import duties for Muslims were 5 per cent and for non-Muslims 10 per cent of the commodity. For, Abu Hanifa, whose Sunni school of law prevailed in India, would tax the merchandise of the Dhimmis as imposts at double the Zakat fixed for Muslims. From K.S. Lal, Theory and Practice of Muslim State in India, Delhi, 1999, pp. 139-140

that should be hunged in any normal society and hopefully will be.

Will they demand that it is free for Jews and Christians?

Israel is the only democracy in the whole Middle East. One small example is the number of Israeli Arabs who are members in the Israeli Parliament with full rights as of any citizen.

if the author of the text tried to think just a little bit beyond the first level of his/her argument. Just as an example: his/her upset about a university that might not be opened to non-Jews. How about a Yeshiva or rabbinical college. Would he/she demand tha non-Jewish students are accepted?

Let's see...In the entire middle east...how many sq km is that Sam...I'll let you tell us, Jews can only purchase property where? lebaonon? nope kuwait? nope joedan? nope saudi arabia? nope I know I know it isn't the same thing, it's never the same thing, ever. Of course it isn't the same thing, but Israel isn't the same thing either. It isn't the USA or Canada or England, it's in the middle east and dealing with the reality of a hostlile neighborhood and hostile citizens made so by hostile leadership in the government. a citizenship that will not give allegiance to the country, will not serve the country be it in the army or national service....there are many things that are different here. a little knowledge and a little closer look at the situation rather than pulling out the facts that suit you.

Sam, That is the issue in a nutshell. Land sales in Palestine like those in Israel should not be restricted by race, creed, color or sex but they should be purchased with the understanding that the purchase does not affect the nature of the sovereignty on the land. The problem is that historically the sovereignty is affected. All those white people moved to Texas and purchased land from the Mexican government. Then in 1835 they decided they would just take over sovereignty themselves. Just like the Hebron settlers. Chechins have decided that they should take over sovereignty of Chechnya. In 1949 Chiang Kai Shek moved a large number of Native Chinese to Taiwan and now China considers it to be its sovereign territory. The Native Texans and the Mexicans, The Russian Chechins and the native Taiwanese are not part of the equation. Peace Steve

The Greeks, The Czechs, The Slovaks and other peoples have a righ to make a state and the Jews not? We are descended fom the ancient Jews who fled to Europe or wre sold there as slaves. We intermingled with local people and converted them to Judaism and for 2000 years we are in this gene pool. If you have European and Jewish mismixed bloods mate with mixes European and Jewish mixed bloods for 2000 years of course they are going to look European. Je JNF asothers have said is the fund for buying back land for Jews that was the first step in recreating a Jewish state after 2000 years. The land as stted is private land that belongs to a Jewish company for the sake of land settlemenfor Jewsto strengthen the Jewish reclaim of our land. or parks on JNF land is for the use of all. Homesteads are for the use of Jews only. The Arabs want to buy land in order to show that they can reclaim in the name of Arabism and Islam, land from the Jews.

Ordinarily I would be 100% against such restrictions based on religion except for one minor issue. Everyone knows that in Palestine, the penalty for selling land to a Jew is death. It can't be both ways. If Palestine is to be a real nation of laws then they cannot also promote such religious restrictions. I have noticed however, that there are a substantial number of posters on this site that strenuously object to the Palestinian restrictions against selling land to Jews while the completely support the Knesset decision to restrict land sales by the JNF to only Jews. Such a double standard is philosophically unacceptable to anyone except an avowed bigot. Let's all agree that racial and religious prejudice is a BAD THING. That has to be the starting point for any serious moral discussion. Peace. Steve

Dr. Gross, "Are americans racist if they don`t turn over their homes to Native Americans?" That is the most rediculous analogy I have ever heard. Native Americans cannot be discriminated against in the purchase of any land in the nation based on their ethnicity. Any land a white anglo saxon American can purchase, any other American can also purchase. Any deviation from that is a violation of the law. Even private organizations that attempt to restrict purchases of property based on race, creed, color, national origin, or sex will be in violation of the law. Your analogy is COMPLETELY inapt. The two circumstances are completey dissimilar. Nobody is arguing that the JNF should turn over all its lands to Arab citizens, only that their non-Jewish status should not preclude them from the right to purchase or lease such lands; and that such lands not be used solely for the benefit of individual of a particular religion or ethnicity. You appear to be intentionally obfuscating.

Dear Miss Labhras You have it all wrong When so-called anti-Semites claim they have an Arab (not Jew) friend (in relation to the Arab Israeli conflict) it is viewed as more evidence of anti-Semitism (not proof but more evidence). And let me explain way, When you hear a story from a person or a journalist who has a clear agenda to tell you one side of the story, and what is relevant only to his people (in Journalism the people he supports), without checking the other side?s version of the story, that is called a subjective view of a story because it lacks objectivity, (usually from a subjective story starts a chain of Anti- Semitism because one feeds the other with one subjective story), and that is why it is viewed as more evidence of anti-Semitism! What Nannete did is tell you a version of the source which is her Christian friend sorry no anti-Semitism there but an objective view that supports her claim! Regards, Gil

The Self-inflicting Jew Syndrome Aren?t we the Self-inflicting Jews, Haaretz published an article on the subject KKL-JNF and after getting a hard beating has come with a new article about KKL-JNF telling us ignorant readers the Knesset is a racist, telling us the ignorant people that any explanation by the supporters of the bill seeking to beautify it should rejected immediately by any one! How are you Haaretz Editorial to preach us your agenda of moral values, and drip dropping us some subliminal messages! How are you to think we are some ignorant people that have to be preached? Haarez should decide, whether it is an objective respectable newspaper or it is running a political campaign! No wonder that they haven?t sighed this article!

You guys have to keep posting. It allows the truth to be told when statement is answered. Please tellme does Talmod or any other holy book give Jews permission to fly planes into buildings. Does it give Jews permission to blow up marine barack. Does it give permission to blow upbuses. You are going to answer about the first born in Egypt. Jews did not kill G-D did You may even talk aboutKing David Hotel. That had been turned into British headquarters. You and those that think like you is the reason there must be an Israel. Why cant we have Israel when some have the vatican

IT [JNF] HAS PLANTED AROUND 2 MILLION TREES IN ISRAEL AND HAS 180 RESERVOIRS. To be more specific, many of the trees were planted over destroyed Arab villages, as an attempt to erase any traces about the former inhabitants in this region.

Finally, we are closing the gaps with our Arab neigbours.

I agree that Israeli's should be able to buy Palestinian lands in the West Bank and Gaza (whitch they still do with the help of the Israeli army). The only problem is that Israel try's to annex each peice of land bought be Jewish settlers. Under those circumstances the actual sale becomes politically contreversial. A solution to this problem should be offered were people should be able to be treated as equal, without the risk of the Israel using the status que to annex more lands.

Israel is not a democracy (e.g. the notion of equal rights does not exist) but "ethnocracy" or "ethnic democracy". "Ethnocracy is a form of government where representatives of a particular ethnic group(s) hold a number of government posts disproportionately large to the percentage of the total population that the particular ethnic group(s) represents and use them to advance the position of their particular ethnic group(s) to the detriment of others" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnocracy

Zionism is and was racist from its start. It springs from the same roots of Blood & Soil nationalism as the Nazi Party. Like nazism its based on romantic nonsense. Most Ashkenazi European Jews are descended from converts made in medieval times. Like the "Germans" "English2 & "French" etc they have moved about, been pushed about, persecuted, liberated, incorporated and rejected. The very concept of a nation=state dates only from the 14thC. It reached its zenith in the 19C when Germany and the Balkans began to wage wars to 'unite' the volk[s]. Zionism was a reaction to the perceived exclusiveness of nationalism. Israel was founded on a massive Jewish terrorist driven ethnic cleansing of Palestine to prepare the country for Jewish settlement. not surprising therefore that apartheid South Africa, and the USA ["an apache is not a human being..."] should by Israel's closest allies. Joined by Turkey, the only state where the army has a CONSTUTIONAL RIGHT to dismiss the elected govt!

Jews paid for a Jewish Homeland to an organization which must do just that... Don't like it? Move back to syria under your hole.

Public (i.e. taxpayer) monies must be applied in a non-discriminatory fashion. However, the JNF is a private foundation, and should be free to do what it was created to do. You wouldn't try to tell the United Negro College Fund that it must cease "discriminating against" white students!

There is very fine line between Nationalism and Racism. Nationalism is only justified for a nation trying to liberate itself from a foreign occupation (most third world countries during the 19th and 20th centry), or to unify a devided nation (as in Italy, or Germany), beyound that nationalism becomes a useless expression of superiority and it becomes Racism.

It is a capitol offense for the arab palestinians to sell land to the Israelis. When they change this law, then they can complain about the JNF, not before.

ITS MAIN AIM FROM 1901 WAS TO BUY LAND AND PLANT TREES, DRAIN SWAMPS AND PROVIDE WATER AND IRRIGATION. CONTRIBUTIONS WERE COLLECTED FROM COIN BOXES SET UP EVERYWHERE IN JEWISH DISTRICTS , IT HAS PLANTED AROUND 2 MILLION TREES IN ISRAEL AND HAS 180 RESERVOIRS . THE LIST OF WORKS IS ENDLESS BUT ITS COVENANT IS WITH JEWS AND FOR JEWS

Of course Jews are not a race, but neither are Jews a nationality which is what Israel considers all Jews. So while South African apartheid dealt with separation of races,Israel engages in separation of religions, and then goes much further than apartheid S.A. as Israel has committed ethnic cleansing, and still commits it albeit on a rather subtle basis so that it is not that noticeable. But also remember that most Jews present themselves as "The Jewish People" who have a distinct culture, while in reality Jews are people of many ethnicities, nationalities and cultures. Today one is not Jewish and can have no rights to being a citizen of Israel. Tomorrow, he can convert to being a Jew and have more rights than non-Jewish citizens of Israel and certainly more rights over any Palestinian refugees who are the indigenous people of the land.

If money is given to the JNF to buy land for the Jews and it allowed to go to the Arabs, this is clearly misappropriation of funds. It is not racism. If the Arabs donated money for the Palestinians to buy land and that money was used to buy land for the Israelis, we would again see rioting and bloodletting around the world as the ‘peaceful’ Muslims let their displeasure be known. The arabs have plenty of land. Let the palestinians go buy some of theirs.

Jizya is not a direct translation of "humility tax" as you make out. Jizya is derived from the Arab verb jaza, "to compensate" in the context of higher taxes being paid in classical times by non-Muslims in lieu of their exemption from other obligations like military service and the payment by Muslims of the zakat tax. Non-muslims were given the option: embrace Islam or if they refused, pay jizya. "Pay us jizya and we will agree on a sum satisfactory to both of us to be collected every year so long as we and you remain. Thus we will defend you and fight your enemies or those who violate your lands, lives and property and we will undertake this duty so long as you are in our dhimma (covenant) and so long as a covenant is binding on us towards you..." (Abada Ibn Al-Samit).

If we follow the masogenist view of the editorial, arabs would be able to buy any land that is available and no Jew could buy from an arab. Arab states forbid Jews from living in some of them and only allow them benevolent permission if the observe Islam and that includes Iran. We, as a people, desire to survive. We will survive, inspite of the fact that lefties in and out of Israel try to paint us with their facist brush. The author of this article and many others like them have inherited the mantle of Hitler in his desire to destroy us as a people. This is very harsh but looking at actions, it is as clear as day.

Go read your Koran.

They have no business calling us racist for donating our money to a Jewish Fund.

Unless the situation changes dramatically Jewish Organizations, protecting Jewish Interests, remain necessary. When will all the Islamic Organizations start putting their money in to helping Infidels? Maybe a fat check from Saudi Arabia to return Jews to Medina?

Or do you already have too many of these? Jews give money to Jewish causes and that makes us racists while Moslems put their money in to the Jihad and that is supposed to be alright? You have driven the infidels out of more land than the Soviets ever ruled and then accuse us of racism for resisting you!

The clause in the bill stating that "the leasing of JNF lands for the purpose of settling Jews will not be seen as unacceptable discrimination," It is interesting how this bill has its own little disclaimer regarding discrimination. Democracy, Israeli style.

Marlene is it really you???? The one and only, yes yes you've come with a response to the questions I've been asking you for oh so long. yes yes, we're ready....speak speak. Oh one moment, let's clear up some of your droppings before we go on, you know like bird droppings, bull droppings and Marlene droppings. The Law of Return is as racist as any law that involves fastracking citizenship, such as that of England for a commonwealth citizen, or Quebec for a citizen of a french speaking country. come now...we're all waiting for your pearls of wisdom...oh I can hear it, can you hear it.. yeah yeah yeah do the occupation shuffle.

Nannette please read my post # 302, Haaretz has disgraced herself by not sighning the journalist name,I think that a journalist that can?t sign his name, shouldn?t work in journalism! isn't that true?

i think you are wrong....is there one instance where a muslim religious court has found a muslim guilty of the murder of a non muslim ?

The mind boggles at the chutzpah of Israeli politicians. Israel always prided itself on being a democratic country treating its citizens equally and fairly, in stark contrast to its neighbours. Well this contrast is disappearing and Israel is fast descending to their level. Soon, one will be completely unable to defend the actions and policies of a racist government and a blind society.

Dear Miss Labhras You have it all wrong When so-called anti-Semites claim they have an Arab (not Jew) friend (in relation to the Arab Israeli conflict) it is viewed as more evidence of anti-Semitism (not proof but more evidence). And let me explain way, When you hear a story from a person or a journalist who has a clear agenda to tell you one side of the story, and what is relevant only to his people (in Journalism the people he supports), without checking the other side?s version of the story, that is called a subjective view of a story because it lacks objectivity, (usually from a subjective story starts a chain of Anti- Semitism because one feeds the other with one subjective story), and that is why it is viewed as more evidence of anti-Semitism! What Nannete did is tell you a version of the source which is her Christian friend sorry no anti-Semitism there but an objective view that supports her claim! Regards, Gil

On your Homepage, the topic of this Talkback is stated as follows: "Editorial: JNF Law makes Israel a racist state." Aren't you jumping the gun? It is my understanding that the racist JNF Law was proposed in a racist bill. The bill has passed only the first reading in the Knesset. In order for a bill to become a law, it must be approved by the Knesset in three readings - so, one down and two to go. I have a feeling that the opposition will be able to gain support through debate, and the JNF Bill will be defeated in the Knesset.

Sorry but you're not addressing the point. Religious minorities as Muslims had to pay tax which is absolutely normal. The superiority of the islamic system did lie on the fact that the tax paid by the minorities (the jizia) were less important in proportion (roughly 10%) than what a Muslim had to pay (achoura and zakat). Compared to the 80 to 90% people had to pay for example in France at that time to their lord so it was more than comfortable. In addition you should notice that the non Muslim people didn't have to fight during war time where Muslim citizens had to risk their lives. This costs a price. One advice, just treat the Palestinians the way Jews were treated in islamic countries at that time and you'll never see another intifada. However I doubt it and probably that in few centuries your descendants will teach their children that Jews were mistreated in the US or in Europe during the 21th century that why people are fed up to talk about Jewish problems throughout history.

Very well said.

If it happens in Israel, it's racist Jewish. If it happens somewhere else, it's nationalist. If it protects jews, it's apartheid. If it protects others, it's nationalism. If stores can't be open on Saturday, it's those crazed fanatic jews. If stores can't be open on Sunday, it's the Lord's Day. If a Jew can't buy land in Hevron, why does that damned jew want to go where he shouldn't go, why is he trying to humiliate the arabs. If an arab can't buy JNF land, it's racism. Nationalism or racist Jewish State? it depends on whether you're jewish or not. The editorial slant here is right on cue with regard to Burston's column. oh yeah, it'll mean soooo much more coming from a jew. At the end of the day these folks will still be holding their hands out to us hoping to be saved.

USA supports Israel Your "zionist funding" because israel is a genuine friend and a democracy..no amount of yr twisting truth can alter those facts. As for funding..USA funds many many countries...including most notably Western Europe which recevd trillions of USD and troops to keep her in existence ... israel gets mere pocket money in comparison... so i guess "milk and honey" should be directed at the europeans.

Throughout history all wars were economic wars. Many of them had other declared reasons, but a close by looks shows that they always were wars for resources. Those resources could be land, water, oil, diamonds, or spices. This conflict is no different. The Jews vs. Arabs propoganda is just a way to mobilize the naive mases. At the end Israel serves a bigger agenda and Jewish and Arab kids are dying a like, while the Saudi oil sheikh, the russian arm dealer, the jewish financier, and the American oil executive are having a drink celebrating their accumulated wealth. So please stop this racism as it is your own kidds who are dying as a result of it.

Jizia stoped to exist long time ago, the same for slavery and pogroms, so lets think 21 centry.

I never heard about this JNF. With J for Jail or Jealous. Sure it will not improve Israel' image already very dowgraded by R like Religion in ID-cards and W like War -july 2006. MOreover JNF fund or law will definitly damage my moral and could send me to an Hospital for permanent nervous breakdown. I know that you make your job and you make it very well. Nevertheless I would appreciate more positive inputs from My country. Israel should sound like "a modern democratic jewish state wich give same chance to all/any of its citizen". That's all ClaudeB

Is the one that most Israelis support as well as most of Israel's supporters. There can never be anything as a democratic state where one identity of people reign supreme over all others & where all citizens do not have exacly the same rights. Whoever wrote this editorial, you must know that the very foundation of Israel is built on the most racist law of all, the law of return. This law is predicated on the Nurememberg Laws of 1935 which deprived Jews of their rights & citizenship in Germany using racist criteria. In its place is Israel's law of return that applies the same racist criteria to grant all rights & citizenship to Jews, but denies the right of return to the Palestinian refugees (who were expelled from their lands on the basis they were not Jews), & because they do not meet the racist criteria in question, therefore, can never become citizens. If this kind of law has anything to do with democracy, then surely there was nothing wrong with the Nuremberg Laws.

HI,GILL SCARS DONT HEAL OVERNIGHT,THE PEOPLE OF N.IRELAND HAVE COME FROM A TERRIBLE HATEFUL PEROID OF THEIR HISTORY TO ONE I BELEIVE IS TRUE PEACE.THERE ARE STILL PHYSICAL DIVISIONS BETWEEN THEM, AND THAT WILL TAKE TIME TO SORT ITSELF OUT.A THING TO REMEMBER IS THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND N.IRELAND WHO MIGHT NOT BE,IF THERE WERE NO PEACE,ALSO THE LAWS IN N.IRELAND THREAT EVERY CITIZEN EQUALLY.PEACE IS HERE TO STAY.(SLAINTE)IRISH FOR GOOD HEALTH.

.... minorities of various religions do not pay tax for belonging to another religion in order to be "tolerated" by the majority. Only in Islam. Btw.: since the 19th century, religion and the state have been separated in France, which I expected you to know, IF you live in France(?).

the world and a history of anti semitisim and plain theft of Holocaust treasure that is not duplicated except possibly in Germany and Austria. Israel is a Jewish state for the Jewish people.

In Islam, all life is to be respected. However, a Muslim is allowed to defend him/herself and their land when under attack. Peaceful Jews and Christians are not considered 'infidels', as they are monotheists. That's how I understand it.

This morally corrupt fund should have had an expiration date of May 14, 1948

I submitted 5 different opinions and only one is printed. If I am right of center I can't get multiple postings but if I am a left winger I can? The JNF was created for the Jewish People to create a Jewish National Home not a Arab National Home. If this policy has changed all monies should returned to all contributers includeing me. I was planning to donate some money to them when I die but if they go through and sell that land to Arabs then I will not. http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com

The JNF ruling may be a minor aberration, but does not constitute a racist state as the editor so arrogantly shouts from the rooftops. Carter couldn't have headed the article better. I am sure that the writer would cringe to even think about discussing major aberrations such as *Judenrein* Jordan, Saudi Arabia, or Gaza for that matter.

In the work of the J N F lies the hope of the Jewish people for survival and continuity of our existence and future in the Land of Israel, the Homeland of the Jewish people.

apartheid is dhimmitude or in israel's case the arab/muslim world not accepting that jews also have human legitimate rights to a history, culture and self-determination in land that according to jewish history and beliefs belongs to jews. unfortunately for you, you are fixated on israel. there are 1000's of examples of apartheid in the world but you focus on israel wanting to protect its tiny piece of land from being bought up by non-jews - not, of course, the huge tracts of land in the m.east that are totally out of bounds for jews. pathetic

I did read the post 293 and really you should be ashamed to write such rubbish. The tactic you're using is cristal clear : putting the Arabs in the place where you were in Europe during centuries. Believe me it won't work because the Arabs have gained to much power in Europe. We'll talk about that in ten years or may be less. The Iraq war you wanted so much has been the worst mistake you've made. Any doubt ? Didn't you loose your first war against Arabs just last year ? That was Chapter One. There is far far more to come. Look East beyond El-Firat if you see what I mean. Best wishes.

Dear Eli, Thank you for your reply. You state that my second conclusion was "from out of space". Makeing statements is easy. Support your statement with some facts, some figures, an example .... at least something. Unsupported statements carry no weight. Regards.

Right--Israel is r-a-c-i-s-t ! Why in the world would any sane Israeli give such toilet waste any notice. The arabs and Jewish leftists love that language-it excites them-they see themselves manning the barracades in France against tyranny. Only problem is, the leftists in Israel have never known real tyranny. Now, under the ole brown shirts-that was tyranny. But alas, the world has no time to remember things like the Warsaw Ghetto or Babi Yar.

This article is so typical of the general tone of Ha'aretz, which is far more critical than our worst overseas critics, with no room for debate. I suppose the writer must have loved Carter's book. Our detractors have enough to feed on from Ha'aretz alone, which is so erroneously viewed as a newspaper of prestige and correctness.

Please gimme a break with your Jizya and stop having a Goebels behaviour. Yes the non-Muslim had to pay a tax when they were living in a Muslim state and what ? Do you know somebody who is not supposed to pay a tax because he lives in a state where his religion is not the "state religion" or the religion of the majority ? So Muslims in Israel or Jews in France don't have to pay a tax ? They do, don't they ? It was exactly the same in islamic territories except that the famous Jizya you're talking about was less important than the tax the Muslims had to pay not to talk about the crushing tax in non Muslim countries at that time. In conclusion when you don't master a subject please avoid to address it. End of story.

I'm not sure that a German (or a Jewish German) is allowed to teach a French a lesson regarding what did happen during the WWII. Yes the French governement of that time or so-called Vichy governement did deport 76000 Jews of which 11000 children what we recognize as a crime against humanity. In the same time France was ruling over hundreds of millions of native-borns through there colonies and did far far far worst to those peoples than they did to French Jews. So I'm not downplaying the Shoah nor diminishing the atrocities the Jews of that time on that place went through but I'm relativizing the event. It is obviously a crime against humanity but certainly not the worst France has done against another human group. 76000 peoples it's what the French army did kill in less than 2 weeks in Setif (Algeria) in May 1945. Jewish blood doesn't worth more than anyone else blood. For what Jews are doing to the Palestinians, they will have to pay back. Thanks to Haaretz the price will be lowered.

If "peace conferences", retreats and appeasement brought peace, Israel would be the most peaceful nation on earth. We've had dozens of "peace conferences", scores of retreats and appeased our enemies hundreds of times. Disaster has always been the result. Tens of thousands of maimed and murdered civilians and emboldened terrorists were Israel's payment. In the real world, real long lasting peace follows decisive military victories. Nazi Germany's unconditional defeat brought decades of peace to Europe. Japan's unconditional defeat brought long lasting peace to Asia. Like it or not, the Israel/"Palestinian" conflict will also be solved on the battlefield. And it needs to be solved once and for all. This is a very tiny nation, though incredibly accomplished nation. Israel threatens nobody. It belongs to Jews. Period.

Why should we be so against the failed President Jimmy Karter? Obviously, many of his sources come from the left wing socialist Israeli press. The biggest enemy of Israel is not irrelevant foreigners but leftist, universalist Jews who still believe in Marxism. Mishagas lives on in Israel.

Missed it on all accounts. First off I do know that hundreds of Americans were thrown off their land that they bought in Baja California. Because they were Americans and had no right to buy in Mexico. So that is false. As for Arab-Israelis (if they are Palestinians then they are the wrong side of the line). The facts are that they do get the same treatment that all applicants do. So they even say that. Wrong again. Third JNF is NOT an Israeli institute. Ye'er out!! Three strikes in a row. You can claim to be an Israeli but you are wrong on every single issue. Must be a very blissful person.

Israel is not like America because Europeans with no rights whatsoever to be there invaded and murdered millions and stole their land, imposed their language and institutions and made all the rules.... Israel on the other hand is inhabited bya semitic tribe ie the Jews who speak a m.eastern language hebrew in their homeland which also has a m.eastern name .... Gill do you understand ?

No, Labhras, I'm not playing "eternal victim". I'm simply opposing a very sick editorial. Virtually every nation on earth has legal restrictions on land sales and sales of other national assets. These laws are designed to protect the sovereignty and wellbeing of the nation. Some are reasonable. Some are exreme. The laws Haaretz refers to as "racist" are perfectly reasonable. Enemies and potential enemies can't be allowed to buy up your nation. Otherwise rich enemies like Saudi Arabia could buy up Israel. Even placid nations like Canada and Sweden have laws restricting purchase of national assets by enemies and potential enemies. Maybe you're from "Victimland". I'm not. I want Israel to act like a strong, self respecting nation. Israel's true friends, mostly Jews, fundamentalist Christians and conservatives, also do. This editorial is incredibly contemptible because it is not only unfair and wrong. It plays straight into the hands of Jew and Israel haters (perhaps like you) worldwide.

you are a settler on stolen land...a foreigner speaking a non native language - jews anywhere in the m.east have as much claim as arabs as both are semitic tribes and everything about them ie language etc is m.eastern. BTW..when portuguese speakers throw amazonian tribes out of their forest homes for them to be burnt down for soya plantations, what does eric in nm say ? eric says nothing because he has never even thought about it. but now hopefully eric will be honest and consistent and condemn this blatant racist colonialist land theft.

"IT" never publishes a name.

AS DEPICTED ON THE LITTLE BLUE BOXES? PLEASE TELL HOW BIG ISRAEL WAS DEPICTED ! ITS TIME TO PRINT THE MAP HAARETZ

I knew you wouldn't! "Jizya" is, direct translation, a "humility tax" paid to Moslems for a "limited toleration" of Xians and Jews amidst them in Moslem countries: Sura 9:29. BEWARE: YOU yourself may one day be paying it too! You do have other choices too: convert to Islam, become a slave or lose your head (read how that is done acc. to Sura 47:4). NOW that we got this out of the way, please enlighten me more about what "racism" comprehends except the Torah and the Talmud, hopefully with refrences. Merci!

Jewish people have this fear of losing their identity ... of surviving as a culture amongst cultures... It is a sort of insecurity . Jewish Culture has survived for thousands of years... Israelis should not fear a multi-ethnic Democratic State ( a de facto reality ). Living inside walls marked Jews Only will alienate and not integrate the (Foreign) Jews into our midst. Arab Jews , or Middle Eastern Jews have never had a problem , nor have the Arabs had a problem with them untill all this Ethnic Colonialism called Zionism started. Zionism like Communism has failed the test of reality. Jewish people should take the road of conciliation and compromise to have a future in our midst.

...be nice #12, Israel did take the Arabs land, so it is a little justifyable that they are pissed, and may hate you a little... Arabs...you have to stop blowing up people in restaurants/buildings...it looks horrible on the news and does not help our sympathy for you. The only way to solve this is to have the moderate Israeli's gain power through a Radical Arab who, ready for this.....follows Ghandi and Martin Luther King's examples of peaceful protests, the IDF will maul the Arab's,(beatings, shootings..etc) b/c they will not be able to counter the surprise Palestinian tactic. The Israeli moderates will be appalled by the treatment of the Palestinaians, make them a state, allow them to receive taxes, and give a paltry payout for the lands taken. Now the new state of Palestine, pushes out Iraninan and Syrian influence, and becomes a trade partner and vital cog for stability in the region. This will preserve Bush's "legacy",(luv that term lol), follow my lead...

more pals are killed in traffic acidents than in the conflict...more are killed in internecine violence.... try some perspective

...and everyone as burning Jimmy Carter b/c he expressed similar views....sounds just like Apartheid to me....

As far as I know, current racist policies of the criminal kosher State originate directly from those so-called recent neolithic sacred text, namely the bible and their rabbinic comments so-called aplestinian and babylonian talmud. These passeistic, supremacist and obscurantist texts distinguish between the G-d chosen-ones and the lower others from far below called goyim. Sooner or latter, these religious stupidities will be abandoned by free-israelos. Otherwise, an internal implosion will disrupt the kosher State. A simple wait and see.

in Australia, and other countries too, aboriginals have specials land available to them, where other Australian people cannot invest in. Arnhem Land, York Peninsula are just 2 examples. So why not for the aboriginals of Israel?

'Thanks' to multiculturalists and Arab-lovers like you Europe is no longer allowed to call itself 'Christian' nor can it support Christian Arabs only. Europe SHOULD be a safehaven for Christians in the Middle East who are harassed by their Muslim fellow-countrymen, but 'we have to treat everyone equally', so even Islamists can be 'refugees' here. And I do not feel the slightest connection to Orthodox and Catholic Israeli Arab Christians who do not respect other Christian dominations. Let them live like dhimmis among their 'Muslim brothers and sisters!

Haaretz Editorial - Is that your name Haaretz Editorial (who ever you are) you shame yourself you disgrace yourself by not signing your article, at least your colleagues Yoav Sterm and Shahar Ilan had the courage to sign their work, saying we stand behind our work! What are you Haaretz Editorial conveying to us, by not signing your work? That you are not really a respectable newspaper, that you are unsure in the report, that this is not news but your personal opinion, that you are afraid someone will sue you! What does this convey to us the readers! Haaretz this is a disgrace for journalism, and any person how works in journalism and can?t sign his name, shouldn?t work in journalism! Gil p.s. By the way this is my real name (And do stop censoring my right of speech ? especially when it doesn?t have any foul language, but pure sincere criticism, or you can?t have that on your forum, and that says a lot about the newspaper, this is the 5ft time this post has been sent, and you are getting a good mark from for shutting mouths)

I am sick and tired of Haaretz and every other liberal self-destructing Israeli organization banging on and on about "racism". Carry on down this road and Israel will soon cease to exist, and the people in Israel who laid the seeds of its destruction will be stood around with blank stares on their faces - saying in a moronic, dumb tone of voice "Duh!! What happened?" No wonder the Islamists are winning!

Israel was created as a JEWISH state for JEWS. The money is for JEWS donated by JEWS! Israel is NOT the United States. Never forget the JEWISH blood that was spilled in Europe which lead to a final place, a home, where all JEWS, can live without being subject to another country's rule. More dangerous than Syria and Iran is the utter stupidity of the left which will lead to the internal destruction of Israel. Stop the nonsense and accept what Israel is, a land for JEWS!

organization, jewish national fund, not israeli, the same as church and waqf properties.

By contrast, Islamist law is the law of Islamist states bordering Israel. Israel's potitics anticedant to strict islamist politics within islamist states far more restrictive than Israel. When islamist states more respctful of Israeli law, and that even approach it'slevel of democracy, dialogue can be established to make concessions on a mutually beneficial basis. But until that time, it's the Land of Israel governed by Jewish Law.

And naturally Knesset should give Arab National Fund (or Islam National Fund) the same rights as the JNF has. It would be fair and Jews would have difficulties to say why not. Europeans could also collect a seed for Christian National Fund for Israeli Arab Christians to by land. Hmmmm...

Thank you for your words of wisdom. This is indeed the crux of the whole problem. Many regards.

No Jews may apply. How do you like that?

The JNF stands for the Jewish National Fund. The J Stands For Jewish. It is not the ANF nor is it the JANF. Jews have for decades had the little blue box in their rooms. I have one on my shelf here. We Jews have put money in these boxes for land to be used by Jews. That is not racist. That is a legitimate collective formed by Jews and on Jewish land. There is plenty of Arab land and btw there is a death penalty to sell land to Jews in every Arab nation including "Palestine".

In a democracy, it's not just important what the majority wants. It is also important to grant certain rights to minorities. This is in everyone's interest, as we all belong to a certain minority one time or the other, because of our religious beliefs, ethnic background, political opinion or sexual preferences. At the same time, the protected minorities should be loyal to their state and respect the rights of others as well. And here is where it usually goes wrong with Arabs, both in Israel and in Europe. Many Arab Israelis cheered the Hizbullah attacks last year. Many Arab immigrants enjoy the social benefits and religious freedom in Europe. At the same time they harass European women, Jews, Christians, homosexuals, not to mention their own people who want to live in a more modern or secualar way.

As you only comment point 3, you imply to accept points 1, 2 and 4. Thank you! You miss the point, though. I loathe the way you try to downplay the SIX MILLION Shoah victims by implying their children and grandchildren are not much better than the Nazis themselves. We've heard that before... I am very grateful that Sarkozy wants to remember the French Jews who perished in WWII. Hopefully he will speak of the 'heroic' Vichy regime as well. Your 'approach of the problem' just seems to be: single out the Jews and Israel, because they are the main cause of all trouble in the world. The Austrian painter had similar ideas... By the way: why are you so obsessed by Israel? Are you an Arab? Oh sorry, French citizen ;-P

Well... Expatriates and Non Citizens of Gulf countries aren't allowed to buy their own house/flat or land .. Well.. ain't that RACIST? Israel was founded 2000 years ago as land of the Jews... so Jewish land for Jews.

Dear Miss Labhares Thank you for your replay, And you?re willingness to confirm that Apartheid does exist in Northern Ireland You have Just made your first step out of self-denial, or did you now? Just curious what do you mean by ?CLOSER TO PEACE? Sorry for lightening the word ?CLOSER? as you stated But do you mean that this is FRAGILE PEACE? Those with out the mashers of a SECTARIAN DIVIDE, the walls that are getting higher and higher in Belfast, people in Northern Ireland would resort to VIOLENCE! Dear Miss Labhras CLOSE TO PEACE is a war that is waiting just to happen! (Break the high walls of SECTARIAN DIVIDE and see what happens) I hope you get a TRUE PEASE not just a close one! Regards, and Best Wishes, (*) Gil (*) Do use those Wishes wisely, because Ireland needs every one of those Wishes

Dear Miss Labhares Thank you for your replay, And you?re willingness to confirm that Apartheid does exist in Northern Ireland You have Just made your first step out of self-denial, or did you now? Just curious what do you mean by ?CLOSER TO PEACE? Sorry for lightening the word ?CLOSER? as you stated But do you mean that this is FRAGILE PEACE? Those with out the mashers of a SECTARIAN DIVIDE, the walls that are getting higher and higher in Belfast, people in Northern Ireland would resort to VIOLENCE! Dear Miss Labhras CLOSE TO PEACE is a war that is waiting just to happen! (Break the high walls of SECTARIAN DIVIDE and see what happens) I hope you get a TRUE PEASE not just a close one! Regards, and Best Wishes,(*) Gil p.s. (*) Do use those Wishes wisely, because Ireland needs every one of those Wishes

We must soon decide whether to be a Jewish state or a democratic one. When the Arab Israeli population reaches critical mass in Israel, they will have the opportunity to vote away all the attributes of the "Jewish state" and turn us into a Muslim caliphate at the voters booth. If we are a true democracy (without a constitution embodying the rule of law) or the will to enforce it, we will become a state where the majority will vote for shariah law and the abolishment of HaTikvah as the national anthem. There will be no Jewish holidays allowed (as in all Muslim countries) and all will have to pay the jizah tax to the Muslim controlled gov. Wake up and smell the coffee.

Third, and most importantly, by rejecting the UDHR you will acknowledge the legitimacy of force to resolve conflict and in doing so deny the legitimacy of the Holocaust to influence human affairs. Nick Ferriman You reached out into space to make your second conclusion!

My TV and the people on the news tells me Israel is just like America with Pizza, skateboards and apple pie. But in my country, we dont have separate laws for separate religious groups nor do we bulldoze a whole village because one of the residents is a criminal. Israel is nothing like my country, we are all being lied to. Israel is becoming like every other crackpot middle eastern nation and it should be treated as such from now on. Too many fanatics in your neck of the woods, whether they be Jewish or Muslim. One just seems to have pulled the wool over our eyes through the media.

The JNF is notorious as a corrupt fake charity. For many decades not one penny raised in the United States has ever made it to Israel. It all mysteriously disappears in massive salaries and perks before any reaches Israel, and all the while generations of Jewish American school kids have been lied to and told this money is used to plant trees. What a joke. Now, these corrupt thieves and liars have the nerve to bring in an obviously racist apartheid law which every sane Jews on earth will be ashamed of. Meanwhile our diaspora Jewish institutions wither from lack of funds. This racist law is a perfect excuse for Jews worldwide to finally stop sending you Israeli racist thieves any more of our precious charity money, so it can be spent on Diaspora Jews who really need it unlike you corrupt Israeli bigots with your sick in the head racist hatred.

your lack of specifics is appalling !

eric, you fail on the question of specifics! frankly you havent aclue ! the land question dates from the conquest of the ottoman empire and the british taking all of the ottoman lands as crown lands ! these passed to israel in 1948! AT NO TIME DID ARABS OWN ANY OTTOMAN LAND !

I am an Arab Christian born in an Arab country, so quit telling me that I don't know the what ifs, ok? What I am saying is that the Israelis are much more aggressive than the Vatican, for example. Israel kills many more Muslims every year, than the Vatican does. And that is why some antiIsraeli people turn on Israeli Jews. In the same way that antiVatican people would turn on Israeli Christians. Do you get it yet?

no mention is made of how most of this land was NOT bought by the jnf but was simply taken, and then hidden under the wings of the jnf; as did a previous haaretz article. but what's more, can anyone really be surprised at this turn of events? it's not just the names the article quotes who support this denial of equal rights. what sort of foolishness is it when concern is voiced over this while the theft of land continues unchecked in the west bank? i in no way fault the editorial staff for their concerns over this issue; but in all honesty it's just another infraction of human rights that has progressed without pause since isrel's inception. if you consider the settlements for what they really are; it's easy to see that not much has changed since 1948. it's only taken on a certain degree of subtlety to acquiesce the questions of "big brother" and the rest who would protest, while hiding from their eyes the realities of the ongoing displacement and the daily misery that the settlements inflict on the palestinians. how can anyone expect the one hand to proffer justice and equality in meting out the land while the other still indulges in its theft?

This article is good but let us be clear what is ignored. The JNF law didn't originate from the ether - and the laws reflect the state. The state is on trial here and not some fund. I agree with Zionists on this issue that the money should be used FOR JEWS ONLY. That was it's intent. If I was Jewish Zionist, I would be upset if I sent money to a "Jewish state" to put in a "Jewish Fund" and to buy land FOR JEWS ONLY find out some of it was used to benefit NON-JEWS. Don't you worry Mr and Mrs Jewish donor, your Jewish Knesset came to your rescue and now it's law the Jewish fund will be used for JEWS ONLY. It's interesting what is ignored, a Jewish state is what Zionists want and that's what they got - in all her glory and blatant racism. People need to understand when you identify a state by a religion - whether a Muslim state or Christian state - you inherently invite racism towards those who are not in the majority. Jews in America get it and so this whole exercise of saying government funding discriminates against Arabs, or building permits are given in a discriminatory basis favoring Jews - and there Jews only towns and now the funds for land allocation discriminate against non-Jews and the list is endless - which highlights the obvious that this "Jewish state" experience has dark sinister ramifications that go beyond the daily headlines - institutionalized racism is a sold as a birth-right in Zion and the big picture should startle even the most zombified Zionists. I don't see how anyone can defend this but then again, it's kosher for some because that's the perks of having a "Jewish state".

primitive antisemitism means just that. unusable life? my life was is and will be extremely usable for me and for others.not so with your's.

The JNF has 13% of state lands. State lands are not for Jews only, so the state should get those lands back, as it is racist to give state lands to the benefit of one group at the expence of others.

Has anyone ever given any serious thought to the "root cause" of this so-called "racist" law? This is yet another hysterical editorial, however well intentioned it might be. It commits the same fallacy as most anti-Zionist diatribes, by divorcing analysis of Israeli society & political culture from any comparable analysis of those who actively seek to destroy Israel. Is there any evidence that the future Palestine will be a "progressive" state where the needs of both peoples will concern the leaders? Make no mistake about it, the lone Jewish state of the last two millenia is experiencing a profound existential crisis right now, amidst a sea of Islamism, hyper-nationalism, and absurdly one-sided villification. And yet, self-critical Jewish intellectuals on the Left would have Jews -- and Jews, alone -- turn inward on themselves for a vague, inconsistent, and poorly conceived moral highground. How did it come to this? Is this the best you can do for our people, Haaretz?

I say this as a Mmmm? I'm not sure what a Rabbi would call me at this point. How about I'm a Pro-Israel Jewish Christian Buddhist American?! LOL Indrajaya!

Given the crisis, the huge population of the refugees, what are the choices? We may be screwed here; the retreating arabs in 1948 closed her doors on 1000s that are now millions.

Some people keep talking about how their grandfathers donated money to buy lands ONLY FOR JEWS, and how the JNF should follow their wish. For those people I say that your grandfathers donated money into a RACIST CAUSE, so just stop trying to justify a racist law. Many non- Jewish Palestinians had homes and lands 100 years ago for the sole purpuse of giving it to their children, but Israel decided that they can not do so and confiscated their lands for the sole reason that they are not Jews. A democratic Jewish state is not a democratic state, a democratic state offers democracy to ALL its citizens, not only for a selected group. You sound exactly like democratic Muslim Iran.

...that the land the JNF holds might have been obtained.... ahem..... in a less that lawful manner. PH: "PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS OF LAND 'UNLAWFULLY OBTAINED' " Rather odd that, since you then demand something from puzzled that you DON'T demand from the people who claim the land the JNF holds was bought legitimately.... But I can provide a link where the true nature of the JNF's land "acquisition" is discussed: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/864483.html Odd that such information should come as a "puzzlement" to you, Paul, because you actually posted several times in that talkback... In one ear and out the other, hey?

So as long as their is near peace apartheid in Northern Ireland is okay? How nice for you.

Jordan is not the yard stick agains which we should be comapring Israel,everyone knows the Arab world is racist, the question here is israel not Jordan.Israel must resist the veil of darkness and obscurantism being foisted on it by the settlers the haredim and the ultra nationalist right.If israel is not be a progressive state it will suck.Regards

Dear Dr Gross, You are right about the theft of land by the American and Australian settlers. They have not in my view atoned for their crimes of humanity against the indigenous Native North Americans or the Aborigines. I do not know about the legality of the purchase behind the JNF land, but I believe you gloss over the theft of other land by the Jews. Such land theft is in direct breach of Article 6 of Mandate Palestine which set the terms of Jewish immigration. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 said very specifically that the establishment of a home in Palestine for the Jews must not ?prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities?. Taking Palestinian land by force contravenes these undertakings. You would call my rejection of your desire to cleanse the Palestinians as racist. Ignoring the inherent hypocrisy of your position, I will point out why you should refrain from such a judgment. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was written with the horrors of WW2 still clearly in mind. It is a document that denies outright the legitimacy of genocide. From the moment of its signing there was a new democratic logic in place. Military solutions to political differences were no longer viable options for those calling themselves democratic; military solutions lead inexorably to genocide. Under the UDHR, democracies cannot even keep land won in a defensive war. They can only bring about regime change. Settlement by conquest is out. Period. Should you want Israel to retain the right to do what the Americans and the Australians did, that is, ethnic cleanse, Israel must go back and un-sign the UDHR. Second, you must acknowledge that those who wish to maintain the sanctity of human rights will want to limit their contacts with a state that does not. Third, and most importantly, by rejecting the UDHR you will acknowledge the legitimacy of force to resolve conflict and in doing so deny the legitimacy of the Holocaust to influence human affairs. Regards.

Yes, Nanette. I think Jewish and Christian residents should be able to own land in all Arab countries. Since there are however no Jews or Christians in Mecca, what's the point of your question. It's simply a wrong analogy to the JNF law.

I am sorry, the Arabs in 2003 were indeed only 22% of the population. I apologize for the error. This however makes no difference when it comes to the treatment of minorities and the right to purchase land. I hope you understand the principle which must be firm while the figures are changeable.

I assume that you equate Jewish with religious. This is, however, not the only definition of Judaism. Large segments of Israelis are secular but love and respect Jewish culture and history. I personally, don't think that you can completely separate Jewish culture from the religion for these two elements were inseparabler in the Land of Israel and in the Diaspora, but I respect those who think otherwise. I certainlyh would choose a democratic state over a halachicaqlly Jewish.

It's here where we disagree. Israel was created as a haven to the Jewish people, but once it became a state, applied for and received membership in the UN, pledged to all the principles of justice, also in its own Proclamation of Independence, it undertook to treat its minorities as all other citizens. Some posters claim that if there is a choice between Jewish and democratic state (as the two seem to be incompatible), they would give preference to Jewish even when undemocratic. Certainly this is not the view of the majority of Israelis. Such a view causes people to lose respect for Israel. It is also better to face our enemies from a moral high ground than from their own filth adopted by us.

You are absolutely right , Polybius. Any country that discriminates against its minorities is absolutely wrong. You have to make a distinction, however, between sale of land to foreigners and sale of land to its own citizens. With all due respect, the Jordanian law , even though I don't like it, is not of the same category as the JNF law.

FYI:You are wrong. Everybody can buy property in Mexico. Even I, being an Israeli, have a house here. There are certain lands in Mexico (ejido lands) that belong to the native people as a group. You still can buy that land but you need to negotiate with the tribe. Also, sorry, Israel is treating local Arabs like s...I have many Israeli Arab friends (they prefer to be called Israeli Palestinians) and could share with you some inside stories. I studied with a brilliant guy who got his PhD at the HU and was not able to get a teaching job in his field because Jews got preference. Is this the kind of state youn want? Yes, andsale of land needs to be equal to all citizens. It's not important who funded JNF. It's now an Israeli institution.

You ask---- "This Editorial is a load of junk and perhaps they can tell us in which Arab country they know of are Jews represented in their parliament ?? crap!" Iran. Google "Jews in Iran" and learn. Happy googling. Since when Iran became an arab country? And 1 jewish member in iranian parlament - is for show only, even the haters are perfectly aware of that. Regards, the smart one...

BUT IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE IF IRELAND AS WHOLE RETURNED TO BRITISH RULE !! SINCE AROUND 25% OF THE POPULATION HAVE IRISH BLOOD !

"Jews can move in to places bought in Hevron?" - Peter Rabbit As you know, when you buy a house, you must record the purchase with the authorities. There might be applicable taxes to pay. If the house was never inhabited before and has no permit of occupancy, such must be issued first by the appropriate authority. Now, if you are a notorious forger, and the previous owner claims that there was no sale, the verification process might take some time. All this time you have to stay in the zoo and not move into the house.

When so called antisemites claim they have jewish friends it is viewed as more evidence of antisemitism.Double standard.

VICTOR Talks orange but eats apples.He now supports a one State solution in Ireland. Well done Victor. Regards

are you asking for jews in america to give back stolen land,or what is your point.The usa were 14,000,000 native people were killed is were most of the zionist funding comes from.This is the zionists milk and honey,this is were zionists preach equal rights out one side of there mouth and then give support speeches to jnf for policies like this.You cant have your cake and eat it to,because people might take offence to the double standards,but im sure you have some spin to put that to rest.Hey you can get a zionist press to stifle the truth,and just keep going.But remember there is a reaction to every action thats just the way it is,while the 21st century is apon us you live in 700 bc with a few twists to the laws of moses.

You poor victimized people, will the world never give you a break.Why don,t you give yourself a break from your endless victimhood.

vladimir. you wrote ----labras, why woudn't you came here and became anothe rachel corrie? it will suit your primitive antisemitism and at least you will give your totally unusable life to some purpose? 1, What is 'primitive antisemitism' Is that the early stages. 2, Vladimir, your totally "unusable' life is more appropriate in your native russia.

At the time your great grandmothers were donating to this fund there were places and clubs Jews could not join or enter. To ask for a refund would be fine, but then would that mean that the Palestinians who unknowingly sold this land unaware that it would never be able to touch arab hands ever again also be entitled to have their deed returned in exchange for the purchase price? I think thats more then fair. You get your money back and the arabs who were hoodwinked into selling the land using subtrefuge and deciet would get it back. No one in this day and age would sell to anyone jewish for just such reasons if they knew the land could never be labored upon by an arab or sold to an arab ever again.

Gil you are hanging onto straws that do not exist. Northern Ireland is far closer to "PEACE" than you are ever capable of imagining. Gil you are a lost soul, and you always will be. Sleep well Gil. Regards

nobody would disagree with yr post if the world was like disney land but the world comprises of a lot of evil, cruelty, greed, violence, intolerance, rivalry, competition and huge huge amounts of ignorance. you see yr "jewishness" is actually only able to flourish in places like NYC...a great place but hey totally not representative of the real world...i mean do you really think you have a clue what its like out there...you are sooo middle class and closeted that you can talk this namby pamby stuff. it ain't real buddy. for your own safety and future, wake up.

it is about self-preservation and btw holding onto land ie reserving it for kith and kin is hardly revolutionary.

i note you dont answer #202

put down your manual of the world and try actually thinking of simple what happens if scenarios....say a "Cause & Effect" .... if I am a christian or non muslim in the arab countries you mentioned what would the effect be on me ? Try it.

Anybody can be come Jewish, regardless of race! How can this even logically be compared to South Africa's Apartheid policy? Seen at it's worst, Israel's "apartheid" laws are far less restrictive than the "dhimmi" status conferred on non-Muslims in the countries neighboring Israel. Also, when taken into consideration that 60% of the Jews living in Israel came from countries where they lived as "dhimmis", why should we expect them to know any other reality? Looks like the Muslims in the Middle East have finally woken up to the fact that their sh*t, indeed, stinks! I'd bet my bottom dollar that if the Arab nations lift the "dhimmi" regulations, Israel will follow suit in no time...

Israel was established as a tiny Homeland for the Jewish people. In this tiny nation, it is thoroughly justifiable that Jews receive preferential treatment in some areas. Israel is not a vast nation, like the U.S.A., where many different minorities want to live in peace. Israel is a tiny nation surrounded by murderous enemies who seek to destroy her day and night. You cannot rationally apply such P.C. standards to Israel. What is truly racist are those who seek to destroy the one and only Homeland of Jews. Many Moslem nations have preferential laws for Moslems and nobody would ever complain about it. And Moslems, as a group, are in no physical danger. Jews, of course, are. This editorial is truly sick. No wonder Jew and Israel haters worldwide often quote Haaretz.

Of the total land in Israel about 79.5% is owned by the government, 14% is privately owned by the JNF and about 6.5% is enenly divided between private Arab and Jewish owners.Before the State of Israel was founded, land bought by the JNF was not resold but was leased on a long term basis to kibbutzim and other types of Jewish settlement.After the state was established in 1948 lands formerly in possession of the British mandatory authority and land abandoned by Arab refugees passed into the control of the Israeli government. Some of that land was sold to the JNF.Most of the Arab refugees left because their leaders requested that they leave in order to ease the way for the invading Arab irregulars and military units of Egypt,Jordan. Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Saidi Arabia.War is hell,but those who helped the enemies of Israel must not benefit.

I have NO IDEA WHAT YOU are trying to say - DO YOU?

A. The Mirages were bought when FRANCE was Israels magor arms supplier. B. Unlike you I dont feel loyalty to one country excludes the ability to be loyal to another. C. What French combat unit did you loyaly serve your country in? I served ON THE LINE for BOTH countries I feel loyal to.

jews had 6% - i think it was 8-9% - of land in 48 but pals had only 3%. get facts first.

Israel -our country This is forever

Imagine that Spain would invade France and push the French into exile. After the Spaniards, the British would occupy France and stay put there 600 years. Then the exiled French would like to return to their homes and start buying bits and pieces of the French land from the occupiers and invaders of France, some of whom have settled down in Switzerland for a more comfortable life. Your sense of justice obviously sees the French as "thieves" and accuses them of "stealing" the land from her occupiers, whom you feel sympathy for, because acc. to your logic, the occupiers have the right to France and NOT her native French people!

yacov is reality itself, he must pay his gazan f..ers for very real pleasure services and his ranting here is part of the pay, so he is very real.

The State of Israel will allow only Jewish immigration, and its principals will be based on those envisioned by the prophets of Israel. So ... although it says everyone will be treated fairly, it also says that all future immigrants will be Jewish, and that the State will be based on what Amos, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah wanted ... which really was NOT freedom of religion. Having said that, I think is really just a few displaced settlers away from becoming a secular nation with a Jewish majority. A nation that can make peace with its neighbours. If it is willing to claim that it acts secular, why not just be secular, and stop claiming that it is a Jewish State?

Doesn't that include equal rights?! Maybe it's just rhetoric to fend off critism. In any case, I hope Israel will join one day the familiy of democratic countries again.

There are many religious posters on this site that believe in God's covenant and that Israel must remain a Jewish State. They state as well that God promised that the Gentiles are here to serve the Jewish State and the Jewish people. These are not beliefs of Judaism. They are Zionist beliefs. And no, I believe a small percentage of Jews believe this, but their voices are the loudest in talkback. I read all kinds of information, not just Haaretz. Haaretz just reminds me that some, if not many, Jews care more about mankind and equality ... rather than about some ancient racist misinterpreted convenant. Judaism does not require Aliya. It does not require a Jewish State. It exists in the diaspora just as strongly as it does in Jerusalem ...

Pedagogy is to repeat all the time the same knowledge so people can eventually understand. What you're writing is untruth. Question : Where come the name of the most famous islamic institution in the world? From a Jewish women. What was her name ? Azhar. What's the story behind it ? The architect of the University of El-Azhar wanted to finish his plans but a Jewish woman refused to sell her house and she was the only and last one to do so. Therefore the architect decided to expel her from her house just as the Israeli authority are doing now. Merely the Calife on that time decided that the State had absolutely no right to do so, gave the house back to the old Jewish women and asked to the architect to draw his plans elsewhere. I'm proud to teach you this story because that the real spirit of Islam. Could you give the name of one Jewish institution which is named on a Muslim person ? Even the smallest one ? No. Not one. Not surprising.

rachel corrie? it will suit your primitive antisemitism and at least you will give your totally unusable life to some purpose?

I am not certain that the law makes Israel a racist Jewish state. I do think it reveals much about how Israel has changed. I think it looks worse than it actually is.

The knesset has no alternative but to put right the wrong , may they speedily pass the legistlation into Law . They also have a case of missappropriation , fraud ,and false pretenses against all jnf past and present leaders who have placed funds , donated expressly for the use of the Jewish people , into the hands or benefit of arabs and strangers in the land . All such decisions must be overturned and the monies and lands missappropriated returned to the JNF fund . The secular humanistic peace now advocates must now be held accountable for their treason against the State of Israel and the Jewish people .

This article isn't about Mecca, it's not even about the occupation. It's about 65 racists MKs that want to pass a law, designed to discriminate against 22% of Israeli citizens of a different ethnic origin. That's racism by all standards - including by your very own, as your Supreme Court and attorney general correctly realized.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation conducted a poll of Israelis including the Arab-Israelis 28-30 May 2007 on various aspects. A total of 87% think that ALL Citizens are Treated Equally Regardless of Religion or Ethnicity. Imagine that 87% so much from your claims of racism. The people that live here disagree with all the ignorant Israel haters.

"Haaretz, representing a segment of the population in Israel, and choosing to maintain the old tenets of Judaism, (All Men are Created Equal), rather than the new ones espoused by the conservatives (Jews must be served by the Gentiles) is what makes many people choose to be antiIsraeli policies, or antiZionist, rather than antiJewish" I don't know if even you believe in this nonsense. The truth is much simpler. 'New Jews' believe gentiles are there to serve? What a grotesque loathsome statement. You like Haaretz because it tells you exactly what you want to hear. If Haaretz for one day concentrate on the 95% of the glass which is full, instead of the 5% of the glass which is empty, you wouldn't even bother to read it.

I don't understand why the IDF has paid French planes when the US army delivers free hightech planes every year paid by American citizens. By the way dear David where are you writing from ? If you're a non-Israeli citizen as the majority of Jews you should be more concerned about the security of your own country instead of being obnubilated by Israel ? When you talk to some Jews in French about Israel their answer is you can't choose between your father and your mother. Would you accept the same statement from Israeli Arabs ? In other terms we called that betrayal. Your on one side or on another.Did you get it ?

thats why it discriminates against its arab population. Palestinian citizens of israel (as called by israelis who want to deny them their palestinian origin) live in ghettos, are excluded from jewish schools (apart university), cannot do tens of jobs, cannot marry whoever they like, are excluded from jewish only new towns, suffer higher unimployment, lower life expentancy and cannot buy "jewish" land (that of course belonged to palestinians since in 1948 jews only bought 6% of palestinian land). This would be unacceptable in western countries but israeli supportes keep making comparison with other middle eastern countries. Israel has to choose: be a real democracy for all its citizens or be another undemocratic middle eastern theocracy. At the moment jewish democracy means exactly democracy only for jewish = no real democracy.

But in the past, when Amos warned 'the Jews', to act more godlike and be less pagan, who was he warning, and who were the 'bad Jews'. Same as Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc. Everyone is warning that the people are being 'UnJewish.' Those people, pagans maybe, were the descendents of David. The Haredim are protesting liquor, gay parades, the consumption of pork. Are the Jews in Israel now not the 'right Jews'. The whole point is, the descendents of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Israel all came from the middle east. Some were Jews, some were pagans, some became christians and some muslims. The land belongs to all. And by the way, the Arabic word is Philistine (for Palestine).

Your point 3 is false as many victims of the Shoah may had some children before being deported. Even if you been killed in a concentration camp it is still possible to have children and grandchildren. In France as elsewhehre we have associations of children of deportees. In fact I'm not surprised you've made this mistake as obviously you're approach of the problem is wrong. However you can have another try, may be you'll be more successful.

Let's start with the countries that Israel fought in 1948. Lebanon is not an Islamic State. Egypt is not an Islamic State. Jordan is not an Islamic State. Syria is not an Islamic State. Iraq is not an Islamic State. Israel IS a Jewish State. Of all the countries fighting the war of independence, the only theocratic one at the time was Israel. The only theocratic nation now is Israel. Saudi Arabia is the only Arab nation in the Middle East that can be considered Islamic. I oppose Saudi Arabia, as I am certain do you. The only other Islamic nations, I would assume are the Iranians and maybe Pakistan or Afghanistan ... none of them Arabic speaking countries. So please, stop talking about the 'Muslim Nation'. There isn't one. And it is up to secular moderates in the Middle East (both Hebrew and Arabic speaking ones) to ensure that none are formed, and that the ones that now exist are opposed.

It is not racist or wrong to expel those who are not Jewish from Israel any more than it is wrong for another country to expel Jews, Christians or whomever, just as long as the majority says so. If the US voted to ensure the Christian character of the US by expelling non-Christians or denying non-Christian citizenship, that would be the majority's decision and would have to be respected just as it should be in Israel. Maintaining racial purity and superiority is not racism, it is simply survival. Shalom

the answer by the way is, as far as I understand it and pls correct me if i am wrong, that under islamic law there is no such thing as murder when it comes to a muslim killing a non muslim aka infidel.

I would disclaim the headline because I don't think it helps to call people unpleasant names, BUT none of the great democracies would permit a proposal like this to become law. Even if a legislature passed it, I am quite sure the courts would find some way to invalidate it. In the U.S., it would certainly be unconstitutional, and in the EU, it would be deemed a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. Israel also claims to be a democracy and to adhere to the principles promoted by democratic countries, including protection of human rights. Israel should not sully its reputation by passing such legislation.

Heard this story long ago! Thinking of it if Napoleon would have only conquered Acko (Acre) defense he would have stated Israel as a Jewish state, this would save us a lot of trouble, and this talkback too! From a Palestinian Jew to another Palestinian Jew SALOM

.06 hundreths of the land of the Middle East; the 5% being the land of Israel and the 12% that which is controlled by the JNF,purchasedd by Jews for Jews. Too much for the Jew haters to stomach. Can Jews buy land anywhere in the other 95%??? Can't even go there. I'll tell you what is racist - it is the bleeding hearts holding the noble savage Arabs to a lower standard.

The condition for multi-culturalism to succeed is the full integration of the minority ethnicities in the society and in its mainstream culture while freely practising their own traditions, customs and faith. When these constitute a threat to the mainstream culture or oppose it, then multi-culturalism has badly failed. 20 years ago I was FOR multi-culturalism with all my heart and soul; today I have turned against it. WHY? Look at Britain. She unbiased received foreigners from every corner of the world. Today the Arab arrogance and terrorism AGAINST the British society abuse the British tolerance and good-will Britons once welcomed them with to their open, unfearful home. SO my answer to you today is; native white Britons or French indeed should hold on to their land with nail and teeth. Multi-culturalism is DEAD! Died in Madrid in 2004, died in London in 2005. NOW we need to make laws to rid ourselves from this false illusion of humanism we believed multi-culturalism represents.

Is france ever going to deliver the planes Israel bought and paid for that you folks never shiped - NOW THATS THEFT

NO WE DON'T KNOW ISRAEL STOLE THE LAND - since thats simply not true Palesine NEVER EXISTED - in 1948 the U.N. created 2 nations Israel for the Jews - Jordan for the arabs - Israel liberated several areas as the result of defensive wars against arb agression THE REFUGES ARE CITIZENS OF SEVERAL ARAB COUNTRIES WHO SHOULD BE CAREING FOR THEM

Serenity or Fatima or whatever your name is: 1. You live in a country that annexed a lot of land that is not originally French: Dunkirk, Alsace-Lorraine, Brittany, Corsica to name a few. Speaking of 'stolen land'... 2. You live in a country with quite a history of anti-Semitism and Nazi-collaboration, so keep your comments on the Shoah to yourself. 3. The French Shoah victims DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN, as they never got the chance to have any. You speak about the survivors and their offspring. 4. Arab French always complain about being the victim of discrimination and racism. But which ethnic group is mostly responsible for anti-Semitic, homophobic and anti-Black violence? Remember the Senegalese girl the 'youths' set alight? So stop writing rubbish yourself!

Go forbid ! never Arab.We are first and foremost Jews and secondly and naturally Israelis.Israel is never a racist Jewish State as you can all see for yourself an example in the Israeli Parliament of the presence of so many of your Arab brothers.