Opinion  Aviad Kleinberg
I'm an Arab too
Aviad Kleinberg
Published: 13.03.13, 10:17
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
59 Talkbacks for this article
1. Let us be an example and a beacon
Tim ,   Brighton   (03.13.13)
Of tolerance and unity in a region plagued with intolerance and division We call on the Religious and Political Leadership - Jewish Muslim and Chistian in Israel to state unequivocally...that we we have to be united as one Wether Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs, Israeli Christian, Israeli African, Israeli Muslim Where bigotry has no place
2. Your pain is my pain
Rabbi Shu Eliovson ,   Kfar Maimon, Israel   (03.13.13)
Kol HaKavod to you, Aviad. And shame on those who hate. Our Torah always deals with 'Klal uPrat' - the generalizations and the specifics. Even if our recent history here in Israel with our Arab neighbors has been turbulent, we cannot and must not apply that general pain to our treatment of individuals. Every human being is equally sacred in the eyes of HaShem, and must be similarly sacred in our own eyes. Having been on the receiving end of hatred throughout so much of our Jewish history, we should never become like our enemies, who cast hate and violence upon others indiscriminately. Today, I am an Arab, too.
3. huh?
Birdi ,   Israel   (03.13.13)
How can I be an Arab if I was born a Jewess? I'd like to hear Arabs say, '' we are a Jews!" The basic ingredient needed here is respect for our fellow man. No less, no more.
4. Another leftist author trying to
Tizen nabi   (03.13.13)
poison our minds with delusional theories about peace in Israel. A lot of people think that right wing Jews are not liberal which is not true at all. The only thing right wing Jews are not liberal about is peace with Arabs as they know that they don't want peace and that nothing but loss of land would come about out of a peace agreement.
5. Not 'racism' at all
BUILD BABY BUILD ,   United States   (03.13.13)
it's more like the normal response to too many years of orchestrated pal, muslim, and arab violence perpetually aimed at Jews and Israel. Not to be too exacting but.. Judaism is not a 'race' it is a religion. It's is also the cradle for democracy and the laws that we democracies embrace for we value life - whereas the Islamic 'religion' demands ( or seems to ) value death, be it that of Jews, Muslims, or Christians Buddhists, Hindu's, et al. Witness the massacre of Muslims v. Muslims and that the opposition to Israel, Jews, Settlements, Building Israel, etc. is being picked upon daily like a never ending feast of quail or, manna from heaven, The barbaric and demonic rapes of children, murdering and torturing of their parents, things so abominable that they can't be mentioned in the course of ones sensibilities. Not one mention of the cruelty, savagery mounting death counts, no, just harping on Israel, who by the way, every escaping African Muslim heads for, not one Islamic nation... What they can't win by the truth most assuredly cannot be won with their feeble, transparent lies.
6. Racism goes both ways
Kevin ,   Tel aviv   (03.13.13)
I do not support racisem but both sides are very guilty. You can not just say its Israelis and pretend Arabs are not guilty of the same. No progress will be made this way.
7. You can be an arab if you want, Kleinberg
A ,   Belgium   (03.13.13)
and go live in "palestine" across the Jordan River with your "bretheren". My family fled the shtetls and anti-semitism of Eastern Europe around the turn of the 20th century and settled in America. I'm as "arab" as my dog is.
8. what about charadiem
Naftali ,   Modiin   (03.13.13)
Not a day goes by when charadiem are not attcked in the media. The hatred towards charadiem is horrible in this country. Before anyone asks I am not a charadie. People are quick to jump on the arab and muslim bandwagon but turn the other way when it comes to their own brothers
9. I am an Arab?
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (03.13.13)
I am not now, nor have I ever been, nor will I ever be an Arab. Now, why doesn't the author of this absurd opinion piece urge the Arabs -- who are responsible for 99% of the hate crimes in Israel -- to say that they are Jews? Good luck with that one.
10. #3
Menachem Ben-David ,   El Mundo   (03.13.13)
Birdi, I can see from your comment that you are no theoretical physicist. An Arab is someone emanating from an Arab Land. Jews born in Yemen, Iraq, or any Arab land are Arabs, regardless of the religion they practice. Pelotudo.
11. God prefers dead liberals OVER dead arabs
dung ,   ta   (03.13.13)
arabs are stupid and evil - liberals are evil and evil (and sht too)
12. It's not racism.
Ira ,   Ra'anana   (03.13.13)
First of all stop referencing the Nazis. They killed 95% of my family in Poland through savage butchery. It's obscene to compare us to them. Just as the use of the term apartheid is an insult to all those that suffered in South Africa. As for racism, this is something that only a moron would use. Arabs experience prejudice and more because they are perceived as the enemy, which has for the last 100 years, sought our death and demise. If a minority here is fed up with them because of survival instincts, we should not be called racists, even if they are Israelis. Sometimes we are our worst enemies. Remember the kapos.
13. Birdi, you are so right !
Joe Wyse ,   Hadera   (03.13.13)
Your comment is so sensible, succinct and right on the button that it should have replaced the entire article and all the talkbacks ! I hope that you are a teacher of our youth.
14. when he says "our racism", is that mean his aswell?
ghostq   (03.13.13)
I wonder how often he blame himself. talking about selftormented person.
15. I was and am still a Jew.
Yousef ,   El Bireh, Ramallah   (03.13.13)
I remember very well when Bet El settlers used to commute to Jerusalem through El Bireh city prior to Oslo era. Once there was a car accident next to our house when my mother rushed to extend help and offer first aid to an injured Jewish woman. I remember I had hugged her two children and comforted them until an ambulance and police came to the scene. Please fight fanaticism at your side and we'll do same. After all, we are cousins! Patriarch Abraham had two sons, hadn't he?
16. stop this nonsense already
avi ,   nyc   (03.13.13)
i realize that secular dibs want so much to be " normal" that they copy American/European rhetoric lock, stock and barrel. However , since Arabs and Jews are of the same ethnic stock there is no racism. Is ETHNIC conflict to complicated for you ?
17. @ # 3 & 4
Jewish/anti racist   (03.13.13)
You guys havn´t got the point at all !!! But talking to you would be like talking to a wall....so, keep on being NASTY
18. Are Arab attacks on Jews racism too?
Ilan   (03.13.13)
Many Israeli Jews are victims of physical harm and loss of property by Arab attackers. It is as much racism as violence by Jews towards Arabs yet not nearly as popular to point this out.
19. Where are the peaceful Arabs?
Dan Calic   (03.13.13)
The author while appearing well intioned is terribly naive. It may be true that all Arabs aren't bad, just as all Jews aren't good, or fair minded, as he would have us believe. The driving issue is can the Arabs come to terms with a sovereign Jewish state of Israel. While there may be individual Arabs who are very decent people who have every right to be treated with respect, it is their institutions, religious leaders, political parties, etc. which sanction the hatred of Jews and destruction of Israel. Jews in Israel have every right to be wary of Arabs. Show me an Arab political party that supports Israel's right to exist, or a Muslim imam publically accepting Israel's right to exist. Show me a public demonstration in the streets of Ramallah in support of the Jewish people's right to live in peace within secure borders, and renouncing terror against Israeli's. While the author may be getting inside our heads with an existential concept, we still have to deal with the realities of everyday life. And the realities are the Arab world has spent the past 65 years attempting to eliminate Israel. Let the burden of non-racist peaceful coexistence rest on Arabs shoulders. If we see it, we will respond in kind. We have nothing to be ashamed of.
20. It's very difficult to extirpate racism from any community.
Mark ,   London, UK   (03.13.13)
Watching what you say and making sure that different groups mix together is a pretty good start. Closing youself off with people like yourself isn't very healthy.
21. I AM A JEW!!!
Dina ,   Jerusalem   (03.13.13)
Well, I am a JEW, pal, and will always remain one! Not a word of sympathy from this Leftist loser for the thousands of Jews murdered and maimed by our Ishmaelite cousins over the years.... It's about time Israeli Jews had their own "Jewish Spring" to bring back Jewishness to their country and the expulsion of all of our enemies from Israel! Why do you think there's such a backlash of "racism" (a ridiculous term here) against Arabs??? Maybe if they'd stop attacking us, there wouldn't be???
22. Will Arabs protest banning Jews from the Temple Mt
Mordechai   (03.13.13)
Or will they protest France honoring the Arab killer or an Israeli cabinet minister. Will they protest the destruction of Joseph's tomb. The muslim only prayer times at Har HaMachpala
23. Pompous nonsense...move on and spare me the mea culpa
Al   (03.13.13)
crapola. The Arabs kill you with impunity and you piss all over yourslvles should some of you kick their ass. Grow the hell up, grow a pair and start dealing with these Arab killers the way they should have been dealt with from day one. You are being kind to the cruel(Arabs), while you are being cruel to the kind (Jews). #2 You are a Rabbi like I am a POPE.
24. I'd love to embrace ANY Arab; really!Problem: most of Arabs
tom ,   tel aviv   (03.13.13)
would love to kill me.Fact. Generalization always has it's victims: sorry for not loving ALLL Arabs!
25. I'm an Arab too Article is based on NOTHING
Abraham Bruck ,   Monsey, USA   (03.13.13)
There is no basis for any of the allegations of racism in this article. there are no actual facts or specific eye-witness accounts. Just hearsay, inuendos and "If a lie is repeated often enough, for long enough, it becomes the perceived reality".
26. Racism
Alejandro ,   Santo Domingo, D.R.   (03.13.13)
Racism among the Arabs is far more severe and pervasive than among the Jews.
27. It will be very difficult
Jarda ,   Czech Republic   (03.13.13)
to reject racism in Israel. The very existence of Israel is based on supremacy of Jewish "historical rights" over the Arabs natural rights (lex naturalis). Do you know any other term for that than racism?
28. I am a Jew.I am an Arab. I am an Israeli. I am a Human being
deavman ,   Acco, Israel   (03.13.13)
Some of my ancestors are from Saudi Arabia, some from other places in the Arab world. I am an Arab Jew. But first and foremost i am a human being. I don't have to ask my neighbours to become Jewish, I do have to try my best and be somebody I'd be proud of .Attacking Arabs verbally or physically is never going to be anything more than despicable actions of cowards and criminals. There is no justification and never will it be for such behavior. Commenters here have tried to discount this writer as a deluded, leftist, enemy loving individual, he may be so, but we will never get anywhere if we don't allow a bit of delusion into our lives. Hope is another word for it, and as reality often tends to be disappointing, let's get some in our lives, we might be surprised, and if not , we will still be better humans from it. Compassion breeds compassion, hatred breeds hatred. Let's choose wisely.
29. Hold on here
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (03.13.13)
I have been accused of being all kind of things - usually on the right. I will say right here and now - any attacks on anybody because of religion, race, national origin, sex, or sexual preference is just plain WRONG period. No exceptions, no excuses. Yes we have racists here just like every other country in the entire world. Less than most, but none is the only acceptable number. Let the police and courts deal with it - but also enforce it with everybody and that does include the Arabs.
30. This is a new phenomenon.
SG ,   Teaneck   (03.13.13)
Israelis, despite of the pervasive racism and bigotry of its neighbors, was never racist. Israelis and Jews never hated Arabs. Wish I could say the same for the Arabs. Clearly Arab violence and hatred is taking its toll on Israelis. This is the result. Sad.
Next talkbacks
Back to article