no other islamic country would give a jew a position like this. israel is not perfect but it is far and away better than everyone else in the region.

B"H He is a minister without portfolio as I understand it. I feel that is respectable since there needs to be a position that he is capable of fulfilling, that matches his background. It will be interesting to see how Olmert assigns this task. I take a wait and see attitute before opening the champaigne. And if he becomes minister of comedy instead of Ray, I am going to be upset because Ray is more qualified for THAT post that has yet been created. It is not so much for his writing but rather for Ray's stand up routines which I admit are much more funny than this move.

Is this writer kidding us? How often has he opined about the rights of Jewish nationalists in Israel? I would like him to answer this question. Why is he not writing about this Arab MInister's role in inciting Arab citizens against the so called 'collaborators', those who actually help thwart terror against Israel? This same Minister is forever screaming about Arab injustices in Israel, yet makes no mention of the real injustices against Arabs by their own despots. Injustices in Israel are directed toward nationalist Jews more than anyone else. Arabs are coddled and not one of their illegal structures are demolished. It should be noted that if the regime is stupid enough to give him the Science Ministry, he will then have all the secrets of this area in his back pocket. Wouldn't a group of 'peace loving' Muslims love to get their hands on this intel?

THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ARAB MINISTER POSES A MAJOR PROBLEM. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS IF ISRAEL IS TO BE A JEWISH STATE. CAN THERE BE AN ARAB AS A CHEIF OF STAFF OR DEFENCE MINISTER? DO THE ARAB MK'S WANT THE LAW OF RETURN THAT APPLIES ONLY TO JEWS TO BE CHANGED AND DO THEY WANT NATIONAL SYMBOLS TO BE CHANGED TO REFLECT A BINATIONAL STATE? THESE ARE THE ISSUES.

...Israel is better than other islamic countries . You wrote . Is Israel an Islamic country ? you had to write ...better than islamic countries .

We don’t compare our way of behave to minorities with the Arabs. Harav Rothenberg is doing Kidush Hashem!

Should serve in the knesset,vote in national elections or work in the govt. We do not want to integrate any communities where the members do not help defend our country. The arabs will vote for peretz,because they see him as an ally against the state of Israel.

Israel already trusts non-Jews to command critical sectors of its military perimeter. This has been going on for decades. Anyway, given that 1 in every 5 Israelis is NOT Jewish, is the social fabric of Israel weakened -- or STRENGTHENED -- by giving visible non-Jews a personal stake in the success of uniquely Israeli institutions? Ahmed Tibi opposes Majadele's participation in the government because he wants Israeli Arabs to see themselves as victimized Palestinians rather than as citizens of the most successful state -- Israel -- in the middle east. He wants to prevent Israeli Arabs from developing their own, unique identity, separate from the blood-drenched propaganda of HAMAS and the PLO. Arabs and Druzim who are members of mainstream Israeli parties are making a very different statement. Guys, there are better way to deal with walls than charging into them and slamming them repeatedly with your head.

Then why he was crying against Arabs who supported Israel, calling them "collaborators".

Sure..give the arabs mroe rights, they will galdly take it, and offer nothing in return but to destroy you. Does Israel not get it? You give them rights, i.e. hold property, sue a jew, serve in kenneset, give them autonomy of land i.e. Oslo, and IT...STILL...WILL...NOT....CHANGE...A....THING!! Any agreement or concession only further shows that they do not want an Israel, look at the disengagement! As long as there is no israel, and Palestine, then they will be happy and respect Jews...but tha completely destroys our identity! While I would love to give the arabs more rights, respect is a two way street, you can't take and not give...and if they are not going to send that same respect back, which si all too obvious, by recongnizing Israel, all the good that Israel does, and basically renounce terrorism and stop killing Jews/israelis, then I say screw 'em! Be warned, we gave them autonomy in west bank in '93, we gave them Gaza in '05, and look what we got back.... Death and broken promises...

All great Zionists like Jabotinsky wrote about full equality to Arab citizens in the Jewish state as Zionist and Jewish principal. Jabotinsky wrote that an Arab citizen can be elected to all public office including PM in the Jewish state. You, all great Zionist heroes who enjoy all writs that the goyim give you in the US and Canada wants Israel to be a fascist dictatorship.

And anyways, if you ever ever want to go into an argument back it up with citation.

As a Yeshiva student I was thrilled to read the intelligent analysis of Rav Naftali Rothenberg Shlita. A great Torah scholar and Posek, who show us how we must to behave according Halacha and Jewish values with al human beings independently from the way that they treat us as Jews. Rav Rothenberg Torah is of Kidush Hashem. I heard him once in Tikun Leil Shvuos at yeshiva and I thank Hashem that I am learning in Beis Midrash with such a person!

Between thus who wants to eliminate the Jewishness of Israel and those who wants a Jewish fascist state Rabbi Rothenberg show a realistic way to a state that every Jew can be proud of.

Haredim, religious girls and many secular Jews, total over 25% don’t serve in the Israeli Army. Druze and a few Bedouins Arab tribes do serve.