Association for Civil Rights in Israel's report on racism stirs up heated debate among MKs. 'All men were created in God's image,' says MK Yishai; 'group not concerns with rights of Jewish citizens,' rebuts MK Boim
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel's latest
report, which stated that racism and hatred towards Israeli-Arabs have doubled over the past year, caused a lively polemic in the Knesset on Sunday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai said that "Israel must posses the values believing that all men were created in the image of God.
Report
Racism in Israel on the rise / Aviram Zino
Association for Civil Rights in Israel publishes annual report; reveals country overwhelmed by racism, restriction of personal freedoms, discrimination, especially towards Israeli-Arabs. Report not surprising, say Arab MKs
"We must do all we can to prevent feelings of racism in Israel and one must take into account that Israeli citizens have been under constant terror attacks, which probably made them feel that enough is enough," said Yishai.
Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim, on the other hand, slammed the report, saying "the ACRI has long become the association for Arabs' rights and is more concerned with them than with the rights of the Jewish citizens.
"The organization's pro-Arab, pro-Palestinian tendencies should be thoroughly investigated," added Boim.
Minister of Pensioner Affairs Rafi Eitan told Ynet he was concerned by the report, but believed "the subject of the Arab minority living among us deserves our full attention and effort, in order to make them feel that they are equal citizens."
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