The Israeli press works like clockwork. Every year, the same recycled stories. Just like with the publication of any economic report. Joblessness down? They run to find people scavenging in garbage dumpsters. Inflation down? They run to find people scavenging in garbage dumpsters. GDP up again? They run to find people scavenging in garbage dumpsters.

Yuli Tamir says "We want our Bedouin sons to continue enlisting in the army". Our sons?? No Yuli, their sons, there is a difference.

They make a lot of noise as if they're doing something, but very often, they're helping the smugglers- or spying. Don't believe me? Look up how many convictions there have been in the past few years.

Since the state was established, the muslim arab bedouin have been serving and in the army. Since the state has been established bedouin has been discriminated against and treated as second class citizens. If even after they proved their loyalty to the state and died defending it, they are still treated like that then maybe the israeli society is truly a racist one.

Israel needs to start understanding which Arab citiizens to treat with respect. Those who serve in the army and are loyal to the Jewish state should be given all the respect they have earned. Terrorists like Bishara should be given the prison cell they have earned.

Arabs who prove their loyalty by fighting in the IDF and not aiding in drug smuggling or whatever, should be given respect and credit where credit is due. The truth is that I respect Arabs who are willing to fight and die for Israel even more than Jews who would do so.

When trying to explain to my child about how Abraham left the comfort zone of a city state like the 'Ur of Chaldees' in Mesopotamia. And what a contrast in living from city comfort to living in tents, was for him, the nearest I could show today in similarity was the Bedouin and just like Abraham they had a culture of hospitality that was legend. So in my heart there is a soft spot for the Bedouin

Dear "Combat Sergeant" (talkback #3), With all due respect (and there is genuine respect here, for what you risk and sacrifice in doing your job), your comments ring of sour cynicism. They also lack an appreciation of history or much wisdom about the future. By voluntarily (and activley) serving in the IDF or National Service, the Bedouin (or Druse) citizen is affirming loyalty to the State of Israel and friendship with the Jewish people with whom he or she lives and shares common destiny and vision of freedom. It seems that, given the state of affairs in the world, that these people do so at no small risk to themselves, their families, and their futures, especially given prevelant anti-Israel and, increasingly, anti-Jewish attitudes (and actions) among many other Arab and Muslim people around the world. While there is no good excuse for knowingly engaging in smuggling or spying, one might at least wonder what could make a soldier vulnerable to recruitment as a spy or smuggler. Common sense suggests that economic hardship and deep and lasting feelings of resentment resulting from being the target of prejudice and discrimination probably often play a role. Attitudes and comments such as yours can't help the situation. Furthermore, your accusations sound remarkably like those lodged against Alfred Dreyfus in France's notrious Dreyfus Affair. Have the freedoms and majority status you enjoy in Israel led you to forget or ignore our Jewish history? Additionally, the sad fact is that, as the Dreyfus Affair and similar Diaspora experiences also suggest, sometimes even conviction isn't proof of actual disloyalty (the justice system does, sometimes, get it wrong). Perhaps you should re-read your history and/or spend some time in the Diaspora before so blithely doubting and disrespecting the loyalty and dignity of your Bedouin fellow citizens (let alone fellow soldiers)? And since the parents and grandparents of these Bedouin soldiers also fought alongside Jews in seeking and maintaining Israel's independence, it seems that Education Minister Tamir was right -- these Bedouin soldiers and veterans are just as much sons of the State of Israel as you are.

Youre a monstrous hypocrite, Rami. Why don't you try looking at Islam, your avowed religion if you want to look at racism! Misogynist, homophobic, anti-Jewish anti-black to start. You were slave traders long after it was banned in the West, and still are. You kicked the Jews out of Muslim countries simply because they were Jews..Jews who for instance could trace their ancestry back to the Babylonian exile (now Iraq), long before Mohammed existed. You were friends and supporters of Herr Hitler and the SS and were actively involved in murdering Jews; and guess what...you still are. You are a racist society whose only goal in life is to convert the world to Islam even if you have to kill everyone to do it. I'd rather be a Druze in Israel and be treated like "a second-class citizen" than be a Jew in any Muslim country and be dead! One day the West will wake to your so called religion and its murderous ways. Then you'd better find that shit hole and hide in it, you pathetic excuse for a human.

yes they serve in army and let their civilain friends bring in drugs from sinai and turn a blind eye to in in return for a few shekels and then when they leave they dont study (they have special places allocated just for beduins at besheva university so that they dont have to wait in line like everyone else and they never use this opportunity) then they start bringing drugs from egypt themselves they steal peoples cars dump the sh*t mountain right on top of them instead of spreading it around the negev, it ruins the scenery

of Druze is indeed a sad situation. but whether it is as extensive as the media portrays is debatable. That it does happen, however is unquestionable. But it is more a sign of benign neglect than active discrimination. Nevertheless, the government should make some efforts to at least listen to complaints the Druze have and if reasonable, address them appropriately. There may be elements in Druze society who are geilty of smuggling etc. But that is no excuse to avoid address their issues. Its remarkable how effective discussion and mutual respect can be towards solving differences; something which unfortunately is lost upon most muslims (Iran, Syria, Hezballah Hamas etc.) and yes even some Israeli Arabs. At least the Druze don't actively espouse Israel's destruction. You can never have too many friends

Why not let us have a greater appreciation for those that serve in the military(including druze and bedouin) I doubt they want to "integrate" and become fully like westerners, but although their culture is different they chose to serve. So those that do so with honour should be respected, not ridiculed. Why not set up a few schools, and increase some business investment in their communities to make their lot in life a little better? Would that be going too far? When I see one of "them" being buried beneath an israeli flag it makes me feel nothing but respect for them, even more then when a jewish soldier dies for "their" country! Compare their actions and those of their families with those in a death march through gaza, ready to sacrifice their children as homicide bombers and chanting for the death of Israel