I came across this interesting survey presented at the Herzliya Conference on the state of patriotism in the Jewish state. What I found particularly interesting was the response of Israeli’s Arab citizens.
Israel is so often demonized as an Apartheid state. A major plank in the Apartheid argument is the alleged second class status of Israel’s minority Arab population. I am sure that this subject will be a major topic for discussion in tonight’s ‘debate’ at Constitutional Hill. But what do Israeli Arabs feel about living under ‘apartheid’?
In response to the question is Israel better to live in than other countries, no less than 77 percent of Israeli Arabs answered in the affirmative (compared to 66 percent of Israeli Jews who think so). 59% of Israeli Arabs consider themselves patriotic to the Jewish state.
This is truly a remarkable statistic when one considers the negative stigma attached to being Israeli in the Arab and Muslim world. I wonder how many South Africans (even white South Africans) were proud to be associated with the Apartheid state. Certainly much less.
Our view of Israeli Arab attitudes toward the Jewish state is unfortunately formulated based on the remarks and actions of Israeli Arab leaders. One calls Israel a "little spider"; another gives a television interview against the backdrop of a picture of Sheikh Yassin; another celebrates with Hezbollah; another sends a congratulatory telegram to Saddam Hussein; another supports Assad, Jr.; another signs a telegram to Assad, Sr. with the words "Nazareth, Palestine."
This survey shows that these Israeli Arab ‘leaders’ clearly do not represent the Arab Israeli street. Thus it is not surprising that the majority of Israel’s Arab citizens are in fact expected to vote for Zionist parties in the upcoming election. And Israeli Arab parties are expected to be effectively wiped off the political map.
Hardly sounds like Apartheid South Africa to me, where black South African were not even allowed to vote. Even if they could have, can you imagine them voting for Nats. This Apartheid/Israel analogy is just a pathetic attempt to malign Israel and has no basis in reality.
Comments