Please tell me I'm asleep having a nightmare. Israel must be crazy even considering this request. Learn from 9/11!

anti Semite ARAB MK who continuously runs to Syria and smears Israel. They must unite those others who feel the same way and publicly demand he be made a TRAITOR. THIS IS THEIR TEST. Being part of a nation demands standing for truth not only being given full rights. This goes for everyone. May they find success.

The real question doesn't concern his ability to fly, or his desire becoming a pilot. He has to answer to one question: is he ready to use his plane against arab brothers when he will be given the order firing at a palestinian target from his plane or helicopter? Would the israeli army take this risk: facing to a Refuznik for any mission he will be attributed??

I congratulate this boy's strong determination, and wish him to succeed in whatever he does. However, I'd like to repeat a few words about the Air Force which I've said here before. The Air Force is a huge economic burden on all of us. It is highly over-budgeted, and while other forces are starving for funds, the Air Force people enjoy wonderful conditions, much more than other ordinary "green" soldiers, and for doing much less for Israel's security. Our main battlefield these days is not in the air. It's in keeping our borders sealed, keeping our citizens protected, and going into the Palestinian territories to foil terrorist plans. And this is where we need to invest the most. In contrast - the AF is hardly used these days - we aren't going to attack any country (certainly not Iran, all by ourselves), and its only needs are to occasionally take out a terrorist vehicle, intercept suspicious aircraft approaching Israel (to prevent a repeat of 9/11), and for deterrence. For this, we certainly don't need to train - 50? 100? new AF cadettes each year. Just think of all the bullet-proof ceramic vests we could have purchased our forces in the field (not all of them are given this), or to simply improve their living conditions. They deserve it much more than the Air Force. Think also of all the medication we could buy to those sick people, who cannot afford it. Or food for the poor population, who are starving for bread throughout this country. This country's priorities are all fu**ed-up.

The IAF is the backbone of Israel's defence. How do we know with 100% certainty that this guy will be 100% loyal no matter what the circumstances?

Of course there are potential questions of loyalty and Tzaha"l knows this better than you. We've had a lot of Jewish "refusniks" (not to mention profiteers, arms smugglers (to Palestinian terrorists, that is), rapists, at least one terrorist, etc.) so your comments are for the most pathetic. Do all the necessary checks, and if he qualifies, give the kid a chance.

It is very irresponsible of Israel to train an Arab with questionable loyalty. Even if this particular Muslim Arab is 99.9 % loyal to the Jewish state the remaining 0.1% is too much of a risk to take. What will Israel do if in the long run he will switch his loyalty and serve the enemy? Nah! It is not a good idea. He is too young and may change. The idealistic Jews must come back to Earth. It appears they are hanging up in the air. There is no doubt that unlike the Arab tyrannies the Jewish state provides outstanding educational opportunities for its Arab citizens. However, most Arab citizens of Israel reject the Hatikva and cannot identify with the Jewish experiences in Europe or the Arab states. If Israel trains the Arabs in the elite army units it will get a very big headache. Regardless how much the Jews sympathise with this ambitious and talented young man it is not a good idea to train him. Plus there are other avenues for him to countribute to the welfare of the state of Israel and prove his loyalty. Israel should not feel guilty or be bullied by those who talk about the discriminatory practices, inequality of the Arab population, etc. as it is designed to dislodge the Jewish state. The Jews have nothing to be ashamed of. Even if the Arabs had treated the Jews 10 times worse than the Jews treated the Arabs there would have been hundreds of thousand more Jews alive today. Unfortunately, the Arab states, armies and terrorists obsessed with the Jewish entity have employed every type of warfare in their never-ending desire to destroy Israel and murder every Jewish man, woman and child.

it is not a matter of racism, but we all know that a Muslim if he listens to his Imam, is not to tell on a Muslim, not to fight a Muslim, but to do the exact opposite. We have seen this already in the US forces happen, and 9/11 has shown they cannot be trusted, nor have they shown to be trusted in the FBI, sadly enough this was one reason why 9/11 has happened. So Steiner why don't offer him a job in the EU forces you fool

In an increasingly likely war with Iran, I doubt there will be any question of where this youth's loyalties lie. After all, if Iranian nuclear weapons are used against Israel, they will kill hundreds of thousands of Arab Muslims, possibly including his family. If we're talking about a potential nuclear conflict against Iran, you want the very best pilots in Israel defending you, regardless of race, religion or gender.

The Jews are easily manipulated by the Arabs who want to destroy Israel. Israel cannot afford the risk of training a Musim Arab in the IAF. It should not even be debated as it is dumb and crazy.

If this young mans desire to serve Israel can be proved to be genuine, then as far as I'm concerned he must be given the same opportunity as any Israeli citizen. I read so may talkbacks, and am always shocked my the ferocity of some of the racist comments I read. I am a jew living in Israel , Jews have throughout history been subject to racism, I would have thought that the one lesson we should have learnt from that is not to stoop down to the level of the racists and bigots that hound us. yet I often see we are just as bad , if not worse! We dont even tolerate those jews who are different from ourselves:- religious/secular, ashkenazi/spharadi, do I need to go on? I know this is going to make a lot of talkbackers angry , but all i can say is take a good look at yourselves before you condemn others!

Look at the Muslim record: Wake up !!! Jihad Watch: American soldier feared Muslim deaths It just shows you where his true loyalties lie - with the muslims over the Americans, http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/002038.php Muslims in the military - The Washington Times: Editorials/OP-ED Many Muslim military chaplains have been trained by the American Muslim ... The risk of conflicting loyalties is not limited to the chaplain corps. ... http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20030924-091208-9162r.htm Muslim FBI Agent Is Accused Of Not Taping Terror Suspects If he has loyalties to criminal Muslims over his duty and country then fire him! ... Get the Muslims out of the FBI. 25 posted on 11/27/2002 11:25:53 PM PST ... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/797237/posts WorldNetDaily: FBI chokes on backlog of untranslated Arabic Despite his divided loyalties, the FBI subsequently promoted Abdel-Hafiz by ... Yet the FBI has assigned some of its Muslim agents to educate other agents ... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34024

we have druse and bedouin in the army and noone questions their loyalty. i have met many arabs loyal to the state of israel who think hamas and the PA are as much scum as we do. the israeli army will know whether he is genuine, and if he is then i say welcome. when i serve in the israeli army, i protect muslims, christians, bahai,etc. so why shouldnt they protect jews. i applaud this man!!

With extensive survey and wide ranging rights to tap into his private life, it should be pretty easy for the Israeli security services to determine whether or not he's faithful to his country or not and therefore take an informed decision. Unless all Arabs are to be deported from Israel, I don't think it's a good idea not to integrate them into mainstream society. If he's ok, he should be allowed to join the Army. No one questionned the opportunity of putting Zalmay Khalilzad at the head of the US administration in Iraq although the guy's origin is not Ireland. The USA by being demanding on patriotism while accepting easily patriotic claims from potentially dubious individuals has, in my opinion, the right policy. Let Israel have the same !

Either Yossi or Uri Avnery has gotten to you, or you read too many Marx theories

With extensive survey and wide ranging rights to tap into his private life, it should be pretty easy for the Israeli security services to determine whether or not he's faithful to his country or not and therefore take an informed decision. Unless all Arabs are to be deported from Israel, I don't think it's a good idea not to integrate them into mainstream society. If he's ok, he should be allowed to join the Army. No one questionned the opportunity of putting Zalmay Khalilzad at the head of the US administration in Iraq although the guy's origin is not Ireland. The USA by being demanding on patriotism while accepting easily patriotic claims from potentially dubious individuals has, in my opinion, the right policy. Let Israel have the same !

Bull shit he wants to defend us.

now that he is young he is motivated, but when he grow he will start questioning what he is doing. so it will be pointless to invest huge sums of money in this person.

maybe you guys need a big time kick in the a** from Iran until you come to your senses. you sick people thinking you`re better than every body else, too good to be tainted by the arabs serving your broke a** army. you accuse the Iraninans, Arabs, Europeans and just about everybody else of racism, stupidity ...etc. look at your selves. bunch of uneducated, racist buttheads.

Though I appreciate your concerns, I would rather have a loyal Israeli of any background defend me than a Jew who chooses to remain in Europe or the Goldene Medinah.

Sitting in front of my computer in a country that came to terms with it's past, I read such racist remarks coming from fellow jews painting all arabs with the same brush. Not all moslem arabs hate jews this chap want's to be a pilot so let it be. In our country blacks in the army killed fellow blacks and we never questioned their loyalty.

Give the young man a chance to succeed! This is meritocracy at its finest!

they hate u by nature , u r big criminal by ur religion , ur people ...... its good to be loyal to ur state , when u live in any country dont stolen the lands of innocent people like palestine . i cant say that ur proposal is lovable matter , but in any case its express new liberal movement in Arabs inside (Israel).........think again in ur ideas , and consider that u may kill alot of ur brothers by ur mind.

When the Muslims in Italy start their infantifada like they just did in France and Australia - then you will know what you're dealing with.

I agree with Israeli of any background but if you think that the Jews of Europe will ethnically clense itself by coming to Medinat Yisrael to make you feel better, you have another thing coming. The only thing taking me to Israel is my Sabra fiancee. Israel is a wonderful place but i doubt it could absorb all the Jews of Europe into its delicate Economic and Cultural framework! I will continue to comment on Israel as a Jew, a Zionist, an interested historian and someone who has a love with a land that i was not born of but you happen to live in.