One question you fail to raise her, is how does one become a pilot in the Kuwaiti Air Force? Only members of the elite families are allowed to join. It is not based on merit, it is based on prestige. And I'm saying this from personal experience, having lived on a Kuwaiti Air Force base, this isn't some racist or anti-Arab polemic.

Wonderful an Israeli Arab applyong for Air Force. I hope he wins his appeal. To those who have so much fear, teh air force is such a thorough psycholoical environment, I am sure there is no need to worry, if he is dubious he will fail. He already has most of you scpetics against him (and more in his unit if gets into it), so I believe strrongly we should give the young man a chance, and ourselves a chance for a new Israel!

Go and smell the coffee mate. You green little nut case what do you know about planes. an IAF fighter that carries heavy artillery and missiles, bombs, etc... is far more dangerous when planted into a target than any lightweight private plane.. You fool grow up first before you want to play ball with the big ones

no one believes in muslims anymore

So much bigotry in these online posts. It's depressing. Most Jews don't think like the posters here. Anyway, about the kid -- please note that he's being invited to join the PARATROOPERS -- an elite arm of the IDF. So it's kind of a mixed situation; on the one hand, one prestigious part of the IDF is having issues with this, while another elite force is jumping at the chance to make him an offer. I hope the kid achieves his dream, though.

Muslims here or there, they are all the same

Eyeball this one

If I would be in charge of air force I would do the same. All arab muslim are ending up to be terrorists. Ok he learns how to fly and the next thing will be a sky scraper on his mind. Arabs have 22 countries so he is free to go to his nation, please we Jews have only one state, lets all unite, because Israel is a Jewish State, and besides if I wanted to become a pilot in any arabic nazi country, they would reject me without even a single complaince. Common lets be reasonable.

Agreed that there have been many very ignorant posts here. The boy is a citizen and if he passes the screening, should have an equal opportunity. That said, posts like #1 are way off base. Last I checked, the Saudi air force wasn't accepting Jewish pilots, Abdullah (I would have made an analogy to Kuwait, but don't think you have an air force, poor things). Oh, that's right, Jews aren't allowed in Saudi Arabia under penalty of law.

This teenager should absolutely be allowed to join the course. If necessary, I hope he takes this to the High Court--where I'd hope he'd win.

amen to that, you are right on the mark

'separate but equal' right? I thought Israel is a democracy? The light to the world? Here you have an Israeli, a Muslim Israeli who wants to serve, who has shown nothing but ability and loyalty to the State, being rejected on the basis of his faith. Good job IDF!! You have just added 10 tons of fuel for the anti-Israel propaganda crowd.

I am dissapointed to hear about this. I think every individual citizen should be evaluated as an individual first - and their ethnicity and religion should be just two of many criteria used to evaluate a citizen's fitness for sensitive military service, along with philosophy, temperment, mental health, etc. I hope we get there eventually.

It is Not right to say Shalom to your enemy. You are sining acording to Islam. Watch the way they reply to you. They will not till you shalom.

The fact that they are giving him any chance at all is a good thing the fact they said no to the air force is because of the ultra high security needed and any security risk is too much of a risk when the states security is involved! Sorry but that is how it is! If he can't fly it then jumping out of one will have to do !

While I usually respect the IDF's strategy, this one needs to be reconsidered. This young man should be given a chance to be a full Israeli citizen and it only comes through full participation.

A person like yourself who lives in a totally artificial Islamofascist state, rightfully belonging to Iraq and in which no Jew can live and from which hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were ethnically cleansed, has absolutely no right to call anyone else a racist.

How many Jews are their in Arab services ? You also forget that the Arab s are still at war with Israel. At first I was indecicive and then I spoke to my husband a former memer of Israeli air force. His answer was a definate No. Until the Arab countries recognize Israel and make peace Israel cannot take the chance as one poster said that what happens when the enemy puts pressure on him and his family to do some natsy dastardly deed. What does he do? Could he stand up to the pressure when we see that members of Israeli governmnet cannot stand up to pressure from Condi Rice. Incidentally, do you know that the US will not accept Jews as interpreters of Arabic even though there is a definate shortage and there any number of Iraqi Jews who could certainly qualify. Also what about the fact that Jews were not allowed in CIA if they had relatives in Israel because they were accused of dual loyalty. If loyal American Jews are treated this way why should Israel do differently aftera ll Israel and America are _supposed_ to be good friends.

It's about time someone told Michael Steiner (Which, comically means 'STONER' in English) what he is: A looney, gruene partei freak. Plus: What's all this talk about racism? -This term has been misconstrued, way too much - Shaul Mofaz is an Iranian, of the Jewish faith. Most of the Israeli population is of Arab extraction; be they of the Jewish, Christian, or Muslim faith. The Islamists-Far Left will brand anything that they disagree with as RACISM. I suggest you read Phyllis Chesler's article 'Playing the Race card.' So, now, everytime a person who happens to be of the Muslim faith is rejected from the Air Force, there will be cries of Racism? Good heavens! Have mercy on my soul!

I entirely agree with this young man. 1) his educational level fits him for whatever position in IDF in level with the required qualifications of his pairs 2) He is a citizen 3) it takes very special breed of people to be wanting to join ANY prestigious fighter squadron and join the few selected "golden wings" 4) there as as many risks putting a pilot of "arab" origin at the controls of a F16 than putting Ygal Amir who believe it was his duty to serve the country in assasinating Rabin. 5)It will be seen in any case as a " racist " action 6) As you may well know, it is common practice, in commercial airlines in the middle east, to employ non moslem as flight crew ( moslem are in short supply) and risks are more or less the same if not worse...are we less tolerant ? We d better think this one over before it backfires at us. I wish this young man all the best. Getting a fighter pilot is NOT easy is VERY demanding and taxing and the leeway with mistakes in training is very LITTLE. If Israeli Air Force is using the same standards as the reste of the world ( and I believe so ) he has a tough way ahead to succeed.....but if he has guts enough and the courage to endure all of the ground training, flight training ,and the various qualification tests, he will certainly enjoy a "double victory"

The decision and its consequences is totally an internal Israeli issue. But why in hell you bring other countries to your decision? Your society integration and your social policies are not of our business, and our society is also not of your business. So stop barking and lecture us about your values, because you don’t have any. And to 1 mind your own business.

First of all, if my opinion does not concern you then skip it or ignore it! You talk about Kuwait as you know it! But again what can I expect from an ignorant person such as your self! Sure! Kuwait isn't a western democracy but we are by far very open and people can talk freely about everything and anything including the government and ruling family! Get a life of get lost Gabrielle!

to be honest, sometimes abdullah in kuwait does make some interesting and thoughtful posts. He is wrong on this one though. I do respect that he signs off quite often saying, "shalom". I give him credit for that. I guess Mohammed in gaza is saying "don't say peace" because he does not desire peace. Maybe if there was peace this arab pilot would have a better chance of serving in the air force. Mohammed, what do you think, should this young man be allowed to serve in the air force?

It *is* disappointing that this young man hasn't been accepted into the IAF. It sounds like the IDF would be getting an excellent pilot, and an Israeli Arab would be getting an excellent opportunity. As Michael Steiner pointed out in #17, the kid has already shown himself to be a competent pilot. Besides, if he were accepted into the pilot training course, it's not as if they'd just hand him the keys to a fighter jet!!! As I understand, it's a long, difficult training course and there would be amply opportunity to assess his loyalty and readiness to be a pilot.

I am not sure, you may apply and find out but one thing I am sure of is that Yemen do not brag about being a western democracy with equal rights to all of its citizens or do they?

Hello Mr. Steve, In Kuwait ti join the airforce all you need is to be a citizen, loyal to the state and pass all the medical exams and you shall be admited! I understand Israel distrust of its Arab citizens but one cannot expect its citizens to be loyal when they are treated differently, do you agree?

Dear Mohammad, I say shalom or salam because that is what my religion taught me! I careless what these people say or think because at the end, the truth will be out and those who exploit religion will all be exponsed! I also know that Allah, God or Hashem will punish them for not returning back the salam or shalom. Salam, Shalom, Peace.

by the way, are there any jeiwsh pilots in kuwait? you are right, it is a contradiction. israel allows arabs citizenship and they can for kenesset members (and therefore for prime minister). they can determine who runs the country and if jews should be expelled from their land (e.g. gaza) or not. then they turn around and don't let them into certain parts of the military. it is a contradiction, but the solution isn't to allow them into (all of ) the military. the solution is to not allow them to choose who runs the country (i.e. no national vote for them). israel is not yet at that decision, but they will need to make it.

with all the lying, killing and lunacy going on in the world, I guarentee you that god does not give a damn wether you say shalom, salam or salami... these are just words.