On March 31, 1977, the Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview with Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here's what he said: The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism. For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan.

As a doctor Tibi is required to save lives. As advisor to the archterrorist Arafat he did not save lives. His doctor title should be taken away from him.

it is hypocritical for the Arabs to demand the ethnic cleansing of Jews while demanding that we subsidize their existence. Its the same way with the Haredim. On the one hand they want to live in a social bubble and on the other demand other people subsidize them. As for the percentage of who works for government 99% are leftist socialist. So should the government not hire lazy marxists anymore? Or should ambitious people with more to offer take a crap job that produces nothing but more government?

Mr Tibi, As for how demcratic israel is, there is no doubt there is room for improvement. As for ethnic cleansing, as far as I am aware the only ethnic cleansing going on in this region at present in actually in the palestinian autority , that demands not a single jew remain in their territory and that even a jewish soldier serving in un will not be accepted under any circumstances. But let not quibble. I honestly believe there are terrible in equalities in israel. My problem is I am begining to think it is you (i mean you mr tibi personally who is to blame.) As far as I am aware you have been in th knesset for over a decade. During that time you have made huge effort to support the palestinians in the the occupied terrorities, you took on he role of personal advisor to Arafat and generally dealt with the conflict between israel and PLO and Hamas (i am careful not to mention palestinians as I am not even sure you care about the people.) Mr Tibi you were elected by arabs within Israels borders to reprsent their needs, what have you been doing,! Did you not realize that if you did not represent your electorate that no one would? Did you not realize that if you did not fight for budget allocation no one would? Did you not realize that only an arab legislature could be really understand the needs of his electorate. As a member of knesset I really dont know how you sleep at night. You have let down the minority that votes for you. You chose to fight a battle that you know no one would hold you resposible for it outcome, You took the cowards way rather than becoming a champion for better service, better education , more equitable building rights, You can continue being the darling of the european liberals, you can continue to feel you are chez gavaria of the Arab world ,but i for one see you as a trator to "palestinian israelis" who put the trust in you to represent them.

Ask what you can do for your country.

I have talked with arabs living in Israel, those, that you represent: - all have access to universities, for arabs with less notes than jews - no single arab in israel would go to "Palestina", but remain in Israel, why? I have read a lot from you: - you shouted pest when arabs wanted to do civil service in Israel, why? - you sit in the knesset, I wonder if a jew could sit in ramallah - you shouted in ramallah, that israelis should leave palestine - you shouted that jews are foreings in Israel - you claim to be a palestinean a not an israeli, what are you doing in the knesset? - you do not recognize Israel, and you sit in the knesset and get money for it - is it that for you israeli mean jewish? if so, you are a great zionist. Be israeli in Israel or be palestinean in Palestina. Hypocrits are not welcome....Sayonara.

where were you when the 8000 rockets landed in Israel? where were you when Shalit was kidnapped? why aren't you saying anything about his freedom? why don't arabs do national service in Israel? why do you recogize yourself as a palestinean and not as an israeli sitting in the Knesset? why you dont accept jews living in "palestina"? why are you agreed with hamas that pursue the destruction of Israel and the killing of jews? Israel is there to stay, are you with Israel or against Israel? Is it that bothers you that jews are the majority or that they are in power and not arabs?....you knpw it, Lieberman is going to be the next PM, so, be israei or be palestinean, both won't work any longer...

His points are simply not factual. You can't blame the Jewish majority for that fact that Arabs (muslims) in Israel refuse to allow their women to get an education or a job. Similarly, having 10-12 children per arab (muslim) family is not conducive to a better standard of living! There probably is discrimination against some arabs by certain individuals, but at the same time, Arabs have FULL national cultural autonomy- i.e. their own schools and government supported institutions (WAQF) and want to live in their own towns and villages. This prevents them from integrating into the economic infrastructure of the country. In addition, Tibi and other Israeli arab leaders publicly discourage further integration by opposing young arab men AND women from joining the National Service or IDF. It is proven that those who do are more integrated, better educated, and earn more at better jobs than those who don't! that is FACT, Mr. Tibi....

Mr. Tibi needs to read the UN General Assembly Resolution 181. It specifically states that the British Mandatory be divided into an Arab State & a Jewish State. It says nothing about a Palestinian state. Therefore I don't see why there should be a problem with the addition of "a Jewish & democratic" phrase being added to the allegiance pledge. Mr. Tibi knows full well that the "Narative" was a sham from the begining. It's time that the Arabs finally own up to this.

"There never was a Jewish people, only a Jewish religion...the exile also never happened - hence there was no return. Zand rejects most of the stories of national-identity formation in the Bible, including the exodus from Egypt and, most satisfactorily, the horrors of the conquest under Joshua. It's all fiction and myth that served as an excuse for the establishment of the State of "Israel". read his book "When and How Was the Jewish People Invented?" a very interesting book :)

German or Israeli in Germany?

Mr Tibi, if you are so in love with palestinian rights, why wouldn t you struggle for them from Gaza? i would like you to teach your "brother" Haniyeh what democracy is...

Lets look at some facts: Egypt kicked the Jews out in '48 Jordan kicked the Jews out in '48 Syria kicked the Jews out in '48 Lebanon kicked the Jews out in '48 The PA wants to ethnically cleanse Palestine Hamas wants to ethnically cleanse Palestine Israel on the other hand offers democratic representation to the Arabs living here, and would give them more rights if they actually participated in the county (serving their own communities) rather than side with terrorists. Who is guilty of ethnic cleansing?

US Jews are only 1.6% of US population but control 15% of wealth, even more if you count Wall Street and Hollywood corporations that are Jewish controlled. 8.4% of Congress and 33% of Supreme Court is Jewish, with US split about 50% that is enough to control much of US.

Dear Dr Ahmad Tibi (or maybe it should be the Op-Ed editors), While I understand the concept of loyalty oath stressing the Jewishness of the State of Israel may be difficult for Arab Israelis, I don't understand why anyone thinks that the loyalty oath is aimed at Arab Israelis. After all, how many Arab Israelis applied for Israeli citizenship in the last year? I presume zero (0). Surely the loyalty oath is aimed at non-Jewish non-Israelis the majority of whom are people from the former Soviet Union. Of course, it could also be aimed at those Palestinians who wish to create a single state between the Mediterranean and the Jordan. Regards Richard

I FULLY RESPECT DR.TIBI AS A PERSON AND A ISREALI ARAB LEADER. HIS POINTS OF VIEW ARE GOOD, IF NOT COMPLETELY ONE SIDED. WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HE ALWAYS FORGETS TO TALK ABOUT THE ISRAELI SYSTEM OF EDUCATION (BASIC AND HIGHER) THE ISREALI HEALTH SYSTEM AND THE ISREALI WELLFAIR SYSTEM, ALL OF WHICH IS FULLY FAIR AND BALANCED. I SPENT RECENTLY 22 DAYS IN HOSPITAL. OVER 50% IN MY WARD WERE ISRAELI ARABS, OVER 40% OF THE MEDICAL STAFF ARE ISREALI ARABS. AND THIS WAS IN A HOSPITAL IN THE CENTER OF ISREAL.

seems your father did not tell you that we rejected Resolution 181. "Israel" has always wanted the land without the people......The Palestinian people have learned that their greatest weapon is their presence. .

The PLO officials aspiring to become part of Syria or the greater Arab nation or whatever (and there are several more harboring the same attitude) are leaders and representatives of your people, while Shlomo Sand speaks for himself.

Give me Tibi any day! As Mahmoud Abbas commented, it's really no business of the Palestinians what Israel wants to call itself.

Why that wasn't even asked by Egypt or Jordan when signed their peace treaties with Israel?

The Palestinian people have learned that their greatest weapon is their presence. . Perhaps that is why nobody likes them. Palestinians are also their own worst enemy but they haven't learned that yet.

Hi Salma & gang...can you see this coming? A Palestinian State that gives equal rights to Jews & Christians....A non-Muslim country...Sure dream on about the two states solution...one a state of absolute chaos the other of confusion!

They dont want Jews living in the heart of their ancestral homeland, Judea and the Shomron. These names do not sound very Arabic either!

You learned medicine here, you worked here and earned your living from us. You have the right to vote and were elected because we are a democracy. If anybody was thinking about ethnic cleansing, believe me, you would be one of the firsts to eliminate. You are the proof that Israel does give rights to it's minorities but you decided to be an enemy of the State of Israel. Loyalty oath should be asked from all members of the Knesset!!!

The words "ethnic cleansing" in the mouth of this war-mongering, inciting arch-demagogue sound particularly insulting. He's been preaching against integration of the Arab Israelis into the Israeli society, inciting against peaceful coexistence and calling for the genocide of the Jewish people and destruction of Israel ever since he's been elected to the Parliament. He's been working with Israel's mortal enemies and cooperating with anybody willing to destroy and victimize Israel. He's been doing an irresponsible disservice to his voters, selling them impossible dreams (of the destruction of Israel) while threatening them against any kind of cooperation with the Jews. How hypocritical can his hateful claims of "ethnic cleansing" while calling for "ethnic cleansing" of the Jews and Israel by any means. The fact is that he and his acolytes (the likes of Zahalka, and the Turkish Flotilla traitor MP Haneen Zuabi) are among the most racist and extremist Arab Israelis, against any kind of coexistence, thus hurting the Israeli-Arabs' future and opportunities, keeping them in a constant feeling of rage and discrimination, refusing any type of call for integration and a future together with their non-Arab compatriots. If there is a discrimination and ethnic cleansing in Israel, then it is the one promoted by the Arab Members of Parliament.

Arrogant fool!