Opinion
Arab-Israelis won't be able to fight their brothers
Muhammad Halaila
Published: 29.06.12, 14:08
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1. Well, in that case ....
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (06.29.12)
.... you cannot be part of the State of Israel. We'll be happy to pay your relocation costs to Gaza City or to Ramallah. Start packing, traitors. Foolish argument; one that isn't going to sway anyone, anywhere. There were no shortage of German-Americans who had absolutely no problem killing their brother Germans during two World Wars. The Nisei fought bravely, including in the Asian theatre, against the Imperial Japanese Army. If you do not want to serve your nation, even in a non-military capacity, then you are telegraphing your intent that you do not wish to be a part of that nation. It has nothing to do with being conscientious objectors. So leave. You can exercise your sensibilities toward your fellow ersatz "Palestinians" from SOMEWHERE ELSE. We have no use for you. Good-bye, and good riddance.
2. Then you have no right to be an Israeli citizen or resident
Alex   (06.29.12)
If you can't fight for Israel you're not Israeli and should be thrown out. I support an oath of loyalty together with a draft of everyone. Swear loyalty to Israel as a Jewish democratic nation, be equal and serve in the IDF. Refuse and be stripped of your citizenship and get a time frame of a few years to leave the country. Simple and fair.
3. ungrateful bastards
alexi   (06.29.12)
any citizen of a country doesnot decide for himself what constitutes national service in return for all tha tisrael gives its citizens. Those arabs who do not like it should voluntarily leave the country and soon like 72 hours. it is enough. all israeil arab schools have to teach the history of the land and that no arab nation ever occupied the land
4. In time of war..
Alex ,   Brazil   (06.29.12)
they may join their fellas! in the other side...
5. Muhammad, please answer me this:
Tahl   (06.29.12)
1. In 1947 your ancestors were offered the Division Plan, which would have left over one-half of Israel (including much of the Galilee where you live today, if I'm not mistaken) to you Arabs. Why then have they rejected this generous offer? 2. Do you not enjoy all the benefits of Israel - excellent medical care, free education, social security, freedom of speech, democracy - benefits that you can only dream of, had you been a refugee in any other Arab country, like your Palestinian brothers? 3. Is only Israel to blame for the "stalemate in peace negotiations"? Where is your criticism of the Palestinian leaders, who chose violence time and time again, because as it turned out - they never gave up on the idea of "liberating ALL of Palestine"? 4. Where was your voice when following the disastrous Oslo accords, hundreds of innocent Israelis were butchered in buses, markets and restaurants? Was this not a gross "injustice" and "disregard for all international resolutions that were passed in order to reach a compromise between both nations" as well? 5. Do not lie. Nobody asked you to carry a weapon and fight against anyone! All we ask of you is to contribute something back to your country in a civilian way. In most cases, it is your own Arab community which will benefit from your National Service. Why are you so opposed to helping your own people? Just because this help would come in the name of the "evil" state of Israel? If this is the case, then I'm sorry to say - you Arabs are really messed up in your heads. You would rather suffer yourself, than have all of us benefit together. Do not cry out later that you suffer from discrimination in the workplace - your f***ed-up attitude brings this upon yourselves.
6. Territory Exchanges
Arie ,   BaGolan   (06.29.12)
Then, if they are part of the "Palestinian Nation," we should look to exchanging the Arab Triangle for the settlement blocs, dunam for dunam. The "Palestinian Nation" in the triangle get their government and the bloc remains Israeli. A Win Win
7. The rights of Palestine
Seth ,   Israel   (06.29.12)
Mr. Halaila is right! He should go to Palestine and be with his brothers. Oh wait .... darn ... there is no Palestine :( Sucks to be you Muhammad.
8. To #1
Bertram ,   London, UK   (06.29.12)
Your second paragraph makes a sound point. Indeed, in World War One, there were Jewish servicemen who fought on both sides. On the other hand, historical comparison can bring difficulties since no two situations are ever the same. Perhaps, a greater emphasis on civic solidarity and what citizens have in common, rather than on ethno-nationalisms would often divide people, would eventually result in increased loyalty to the Israeli state.
9. nice to hear it straight
Marcelo ,   Berlin / TLV   (06.29.12)
sooo, at end, the beginning of a normal country. Germany has a national service for those who does not want to enroll the army. Here is more about not being israeli and hating. So, nice to start seing the beginning of the end of tibi and all his crap and followers!! KEEP THE LAW FIRM !!! Go ISRAEL !!
10. Ok Muammad Halaila
Daniel ,   Tel Aviv   (06.29.12)
You really have a choice, either you're a Palestinian or an Israeli. If you wish to be considered Palestinian, move to the West Bank or Gaza. If you wish to be considered Israeli, then service should be compulsory for all. No one is asking you to join the military.You are being asked to enter national service or the military. That's your choice. In return you gain all the rights and benefits of an Israeli citizen. If your "brothers" are firing weapons at Israel, what makes you think they will ask whether you are Arab or Jewish? Will you let your brother kill you or your children? Or will you protect your country, family and friend?
11. Halaila : I am Arab myself , but...
Abdel Karim Salim ,   Jerusalem   (06.29.12)
For more than four decades of my life arab regimes have proved nothing but good merchants of deceptive propaganda . I had to suffer multiple betrayals and stabs in the back by them . And in times of need none of them has proved a true brother or even true friend . I have finally decided that I belong here . I would be very much willing to integrate fully with the Israeli society provided I do not get subjected to excessive discrimination or unbearable injustice .
12. If your identity isn't Israeli...
M. Davison ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (06.29.12)
Then why are you living here in the first place? If you consider yourself Palestinian rather than Israeli, you should be living in the Palestinian Territories and getting your healthcare, employment, education, welfare, social security, etyc. from the Palestinan Authority, not from the Israeli government. Why did the cities of the triangle object so strongly when Ehud Barak offered to move the border to include them in the PA in return for some of the settlements? There are those in the PA and in Hamas who look at you, "Israeli Arabs" as just as bad (or even worse than) "the Jews"... as traitors who disobeyed the Arab League and the Higher Arab Committee and collaborators with the Zionist enemy... and we all know what Hamas and the PLO do to collaborators, real or imagined.
13. Arabs hae no problem fighting Arabs
Zev ,   Israel   (06.29.12)
Just look at Syria and what about Iraq,Iran,Kuwait,Lybia and,and,and. Besides why can't Israeli Arabs do national service in Arab schools etc.
14. Why? Most Arabs killed were killed by other Arabs.
Yaniv ,   Israel   (06.29.12)
15. If you can't support Israel and don't like it LEAVE
Boo Hoo Hoo ,   Israel   (06.29.12)
Go live in Gaza or Jordon. That's really where you belong anyways. Why should Israel be taking care of you?
16. Arab-Israelis in Tzahal
Robert Weinraub ,   Aventura, USA   (06.29.12)
Why should Israel have a trained fifth column as part of the Army. Their aligiance will always be to tha Arabs.
17. Comment 5 - Tahl
Baseel ,   Haifa - Palestine   (06.29.12)
1. You call it a generous offer but we do not call it like that, not at all. I do not see any reason, why we - the Palestinians - should give our homeland for settlers who came from other countries to build their '' state '' on it. It's our homeland and we've been living here since thousands of years. 2. We are living in our homeland - regardless of what it is now called. We won't serve neither in the army nor in what you call the civil service... I think that you live somewhere else: Who told you that we do not serve our local community... there are many of us who do that becaue they want it not because you want it. And yes we will fight with our brothers if there will a war....
18. If Hamas and Hezbullah are the writer's brothers
BH ,   Iowa   (06.29.12)
Why the need for a 23rd or 24th Arab state?
19. Thats baloney
David ,   Boston, USA   (06.29.12)
While I dont want to speak for any individuals and their personal decisions. Arabs are killing Arabs all over the world. Look at what Hammas and Fatah do, Lebanon, Syria, North Africa, Iraq. If you dont identify as an Israeli, why not move somewhere else? Citizenship has rights and responsibilities. I dont think the soldiers wants to move Israelis out of Gaza, but they did. Responsibility. As for occupation and international resolutions. I dont know what you are talking about. From my perspective Israel has lived up to them and the PA hasnt. This can be discussed and compromised on, like most things. But why not serve, if one does, why not all? Everyone doesnt do the same thing. National Service military. Plus there could be exemptions for appropriate reasons. Why not work with the process to make it equitable instead of just saying no?
20. Brothers?!
Ilan ,   Minnesota   (06.29.12)
you are brothers but when a palestinian terrorist kills people in a bus he can't tell the difference between you and an Israeli or when the rockets landed in Israel in 2006 i dont think non of your arab brothers really cared about the close relationship that you have. you are leaving in the best democracy in the middle east and you need to learn how to give and not just take from this country. there are a lot of things Israel can do better for the arab minority but no country is perfect and things are getting fixed. perhaps you can do national service in your own community and help "your brothers" in middle schools or in hospitals. to many excuses, im sorry and by the way I don't hate you because we our citizens of the same country and we are brothers as well.
21. In my country
Dan ,   Switzerland   (06.29.12)
all have to perform military service, unless someone chooses to do community service. Same for other European democracies. Israel goes in the right direction by making the service to the nation, military or community, mandatory for all. It should not bend to minorities, regardless whether Arab or Jewish Orthodox, who live on the shoulders of the state and pursue their particular interests. The alternatives are the prison, the psychiatric exemption or simply emigration, as happens in other democratic states. The Arab Israelis should take it or leave.
22. Why would they help the IDF ? ....
Iranian Hunter   (06.29.12)
They are waiting for the right moment to backstab the IDF when the arabs invade or attack Israel, so why in their right mind would these future traitors helps IDF kills jihadist ? In the mean time until that happens, they will as best as they could to muster the anarchist and leftist to gives more power to arabs, demands Israel to give them more support money, etc etc. Make no mistake, they are doing a struggle (jihad), it's just that they are not direct and are using economic struggle.
23. Nice loyalty
Daniela ,   Panama   (06.29.12)
Mr Halaila.it's nice to see the loyalty you display to your Arab brothers. It's a shame they do not think the same way about you Palestinians. If you try to find a job in any of your Arab brothers countries you will be considered always a second class citizen, an outsider.. Not a family member. If your wife has a son in ..let say Egypt..your son will never be considered an Egyptian. You won't have the right to medical treatment, nor education. Less the right to have a different opinion from the ruling party.. But it's ok Mr Halaila..as your name says..you are used to darkness..I would recommend you leave Israel for the ones who want to defend it and it's values and you move to your brothers countries.. Good luck.
24. To: No. 8
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (06.29.12)
I take your point, but Israel is a tiny country, besieged on all sides. Most countries in the region, if not the world, would like nothing better than to see Israel disappear. It wasn't ever supposed to be reborn to begin with -- no one thought that Israel could survive the onslaught of five Arab armies one day following declaration of the establishment of the modern State of Israel. But survive we did, and have grown, and thrived and made massive contributions to civilization and humanity, all the while having to fight six wars we never wanted, and having to combat seven decades of terrorist acts that shock the conscience. I have been told that I cannot be both American and Israeli. But that is not the case. At least as of now, the United States and Israel operate along the same democratic principles. I have no problem being Jewish in the United States; I have no problem being American in Israel. That's just a fact of life. The same does not hold true for Arabs who wish to retain all the rights of citizenship in Israel that they now hold, but without all the obligations. Jewish youths in Israel must serve in the armed forces if they hope to move on to a university education. Why should preferential treatment be accorded Arab youths who do not wish to serve in the IDF but who wish to attend university in Israel? Is that fair? Nothing comes without a price. In the case of Israeli Arabs, they need to recognize that their standard of living -- which exceeds that of any Arabs living anywhere in the Arab world, save for the usual collection of oil-soaked princes and emirs -- comes at a price. Israel's security concerns are very, very real. People keep wanting to wipe us off the face of the earth. If the Arabs living in Israel wish to continue living in Israel, reaping all the benefits of Israel's extremely highly evolved medical care, Israel's high technology and Israel's very democratic principles -- well -- shouldn't they have to play a role in ensuring the continuation of the country that has given them so much more than they could expect anywhere else? And if they feel morally unable to express that loyalty in a meaningful manner -- national service or military service -- they ought to go the full Monty and simply leave the country for what they perceive to be greener pastures. If they want to be Israeli, they must act like Israelis. If not -- we do not need a fifth column; we have enough enemies on all sides. They should leave; voluntarily .... or otherwise.
25. #3 Same rule for jews living in America.
USMC   (06.29.12)
Declare what country has your loyality.
26. false. be loyal citizen or leave the country!
ralph   (06.29.12)
27. Their choice.
Gabe ,   Canada   (06.29.12)
If being an Israeli is a problem for some Arabs, then they must move to an Arab country. No one is forcing anyone to stay in Israel !
28. My dear Arab friend
Sagi   (06.29.12)
It is simplicity incarnate. The state that serves you shall be served by you. If you do not like this state then please go to the one of your choice and abide by its laws. It is possibe that in your glorious "Palestinian Nation State" when you refuse to serve you will be thrown off a roof, decapitated, disembowelled or some similar punishment. Think again about your "brothers". Think hard and long.
29. Dear Arab friend
Sagi   (06.29.12)
The "Zionist Movement" was invented in 1896 and based on pure documented history. The "Palestinian People" were invented in 1964 and based on pure undocumented fantasy. Please explain to me the injustice.
30. Bigger Issue Involved
Michael ,   USA   (06.29.12)
If in principal you oppose both military service and national service on nationalist grounds, how can you justify cooperation with the government by accepting social benefits payments from the government? It feels like your argument is more an excuse to receive without giving. If you were truly sincere, you would neither pay taxes nor receive and services and benefits derived from tax dollars.
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