February 22, 2007
SHOWING THEIR HOLE CARD:
Arabs say Israel is not just for Jews: A manifesto argues that the nation's minority is entitled to share power in a binational state (Richard Boudreaux, February 22, 2007, LA Times)
In a manifesto that is stirring anger and soul-searching among Jews, Arab leaders have declared that Israel's 1.4 million Arab citizens are an indigenous group with collective rights, not just individual rights. The document argues that Arabs are entitled to share power in a binational state and block policies that discriminate against them.Arab citizens, who make up about one-fifth of Israel's population, have always felt alienated by the Star of David on Israel's flag and a national anthem that expresses the Jewish yearning for a return to Zion. They have long protested the disproportionate Jewish share of budget resources, public services and land.
Until now, though, only small groups of Arab intellectuals had dared to advocate collective equality or the abolition of Jewish national symbols.
"The Future Vision of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel" is the first such sweeping demand by Israel's Arab mainstream. The manifesto was drafted by 40 academics and activists under the sponsorship of the Committee of Arab Mayors in Israel and has been endorsed by an unprecedented range of Arab community leaders.
As such, it has set off alarms.
As Ariel Sharon, nearly alone, understood, the single greatest threat to Israel's immediate future is that the Palestinians renounce their claim to an independent state and demand full rights within Israel. The longer term threat is that even this 20% eventually becomes 50% because Israelis are too secularized to reproduce. Posted by Orrin Judd at February 22, 2007 8:22 AM
Ariel Sharon alone?
How easily, how quickly, is the entire Oslo process forgotten (Let's see, was Sharon for that, or against it?). Alas, poor Barak, we knew him once?.... Or Peres or Rabin, or a large majority of the Israeli electorate.
The fact is: If they can't vanquish Israel militarily (and they haven't stopped trying), they will do their best to vanquish Israel "democratically," or by appealing to humane, progressive principles.
The goal (whatever way, we're not fussy) remains the eradication of Israel.
(Hold on. Did I say "appealing to"; I should have said "bludgeoning Israel and the world with." Such a sensitive, benign lot, leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of truth and political and social justice....)
Posted by: Barry Meislin at February 22, 2007 8:54 AMArabs are entitled to share power in a binational state and block policies that discriminate against them.
And maybe someday the Arabs will return the favor to the few ethic minorities in their own lands that they haven't managed to kill off first.
Does anyone else think that the phrase "binational state" is oxymoronic?
Posted by: jd watson at February 22, 2007 12:50 PMOslo was driven by guilt, not demographics.
Posted by: oj at February 22, 2007 12:57 PMI can agree that Israel could and maybe should be a secular state with all religions recognized as valid including Islam with all individual citizens sharing the same rights and responsibilities. Naturally all Islamic nations would return the favor.
I would vehemently oppose a nation of Islam or a nation of Baptists or a nation of any other religious groups inside Israel.
Posted by: erp at February 22, 2007 1:56 PMNation of Baptists
Gotta add that the list of band names...
erp:
Then you have to oppose democracy in Israel and why would it be worth saving at that point?
Posted by: oj at February 22, 2007 3:37 PMHow oppose democracy?
Posted by: erp at February 22, 2007 5:34 PMWhen the Indians stop shooting arrows, then we may uncircle the wagon train.
Posted by: Lou Gots at February 23, 2007 1:55 PMWhen the Indians stop shooting arrows, then we may uncircle the wagon train.
Posted by: Lou Gots at February 23, 2007 2:05 PM