Opinion  Others
The border of loyalty
Avigdor Lieberman
Published: 18.08.06, 11:55
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61. Liberman should replace Olmert the big failure
Debbie ,   A Proud Israeli Jew   (08.18.06)
62. EXILE BETRAYERS,ARABS OR JEWS,ANY WHO PREACHES END OF ISRAEL
NELSON FAIER ,   RIO DE JANEIRO   (08.19.06)
MAKE LAWS DEFINING WELL WHAT TREASON WILL BE AND EXILE EVERY TERRORIST SUPORTER OR STATE RENEGADES. PUT THE ARABS OR ANY OTHER JEWISH GROUP THAT DENIES THE STATE OR EVICTS THE MILITARY SERVICE TO A CIVIL DUTY OF ABOUT 3 YEARS, THIS WOULD HELP TO POSTPONE THEIR WEDDINGS AND DEMOGRAPHIC DISPROPORTIONATE GROWTH. I THINK IT SHOULD BE MADE CLEAR BY LAW THAT THE STATE CAN LEAD TO EQUAL BIRTH RATES BETWEEN THE TWO MAIN NATIONAL GROUPS EITHER BY REWARDING HIGHER BIRTHRATE IN ONE OF THEM OR A LOWER ONE TO THE OTHER GROUP. ISRAEL MUST THEN DEMOCRATICALLY STAND FOR ITS JEWISH NATIONAL PURPOSE. THIS COULD BE NICE TO THE ARABS THAT COULD BUILD BETTER LIFE CONDITIONS TO THEMSELVES THRU SUCH A NATIONAL SERVICE AS WELL AS IMPROVE THEIR LIVING STANDARD BY HAVING LESS CHILDREN AND ALSO GETTING MORE ACCEPTANCE BY BEING LESS THREATENING TO THE JEWISH CHARACTER OF THE STATE. WE JEWS ABROAD DON'T INTEND AT ALL TO CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRIES WE'RE CITYZENS OF. I TYHINK THAT'S FULLY DEMOCRATIC AND BENIGN. IT'S VERY SIMPLE: EQUAL NATURAL DEMOGRAPHIC GROWTH TO BOTH GROUPS AND JEWISH ALIAH COMPLETES THE JOB. A GOOD AND VERY FAIR WAY TO SUCH POLICY SHOULD BE A MAXIMOUS NUMBER OF CHILDREN ALLOWED PER COUPLE BE THEM JEWISH OR ARABS.
63. The border of loyalty
Neil Emond ,   Canada   (08.19.06)
My point is the messenger has no credibility when it comes to whether Israeli Arabs are loyal or not as he has used the Knesset immunity he enjoys to attack the arabs regardless of whether they show undying loyalty to the State of Israel. This is the same man whom was willing to incite jew against jew during the Gaza withdrawal.I support the State of Israel and the sanity it brings to a sometimes region filled with hate. I suggest Mr. Lieberman spend as much energy uniting the jewish people to make them stronger collectively as a society.
64. sadly
ivri   (08.18.06)
The Arabs with their teachings of hate,their all or nothing attitude,including their supporters from the blind western left,have succeded in one thing. What they have mannaged to do,is take Israelis who fought for peace in the 70's 80's & 90's ,and turn them into realists. How right was Rav Kahana...it seems today that he was the only one "getting it " back then. Avigdor is no diffrent...only more current. We fought for moderation,now we will fight even harder for absolutely all or nothing. You asked for it......here we are.
65. Where are your loyalties, Avigdor?
Jonathan Edelstein ,   New York, USA   (08.18.06)
MK Lieberman says that Arab citizens must choose their loyalties. What is his loyalty to those citizens? He has described them as a demographic threat, called for their citizenship to be revoked and supported discriminatory laws. What is his offer to those who declare their loyalties as he suggests? What will he offer the Arabs in the Katyusha-hit towns of the Galil, those who stayed in the same bomb shelters as Jews in Haifa and Akko, the thousands who volunteered on the home front, the hundreds of thousands who pay their taxes every year and live within the law? Will he offer them equal budgeting, reconstruction funds, a real end to discrimination? Or will he say "welcome" and then continue as he always has? True loyalty always runs both ways. If the state expects Arab citizens to be loyal, then it must be loyal to them and make a genuine effort to meet them halfway. This means much more than saying "welcome" to the non-Jewish citizens when something is wanted of them. Instead, the state must _make_ them welcome in a country that is their homeland as well as ours. Anyone who doesn't understand this, Lieberman most of all, has no business being prime minister. Give Nadia Hilou the job - she's worth ten of him.
66. Political Correctness Be Damned
Adina Kutnicki ,   US   (08.19.06)
One of the only sensible proposals to appear before the Knesset. No other normal or sane country would allow so many subversive and treasonous people to not only sponge off its system, but to subvert iit through its halls of Parliament. To be sure the left wing in Israel headed by Aaron Barak, OLmert & his ilk, nourished by the media and the academics will rue the day that they coddled the Arab sector at the expense of Israel's Jewish essence. At the very least Lieberman's plan must be implemented. If the Arabs do not agree to this they should be stripped of all political and electoral privileges. In addition, those who continue to agitate must be sent out of the country. Israel's survival is at stake!
67. To Mark
USA   (08.18.06)
#60 how about if we expel you out of the USA
68. use your brains
reasonable ,   california   (08.18.06)
Israelis are advised to start using their brains more than using their emotions. Suppose you succeed in cleansing from the still undefined borders of Israel of the Arab population and suppose that you build a 100' wall around your borders to prevent any Arab to infiltrate to Israel, do you still believe that you can survive in the long term in the heart of the Arab world with the incoming age of rockets and the determined attitudes of your neighbors to rid the area of a racist state?? . Start looking beyond your noses and think of your children and grand children and start changing your attitudes. You are part of the Middle East and not an extension of the West and don't ever think that you will be the 51st state to America. Wake up Israelis and start learning to live with your cousins as equals and not as subordinates, your future depends on it.
69. Arab Knesset members, a fifth column
moshe Sheskin ,   hulda, Israel   (08.19.06)
Avigdor's Lieberman should be commended for telling it as it is. The time has come for the Arab Knesset members to stop their diatribe and opposition to the hand that feeds them, especially from the capitals of Arab countries. Democracy also poses oligations, especially on people who make their laws. If we allow Knesset members to declare their allegiance and then abuse it, we're in danger of losing our demcratic rights. Members of the Knesset, no matter from which party they may come have an obligation towards the State. Anything short of it is treasonous and should be dealt with accordingly.
70. backtalker
erly ,   toronto   (08.19.06)
You have the country's mixed up. France is already an appendix of Islam. The Iman from the Pal. territoried has already claimed this in a Friday night service last year. What are you smoking??
71. love for Israel
with love to Israel ,   london   (08.19.06)
Hey childern of Israel...this land of Palestine..is an arab..and it will remain so...from the sea to the sea and from the south to the south...Palestine will remain....written...in the hearts of 6million palestinians...Palestine is written in the hearts of 300 million arabs...and 1.3 b muslims...Palestine is written in the words of the Koran.....Arabic it will remain.....!!
72. Multiculturalism
Mark Willmott ,   Kitchener, Canada   (08.19.06)
I realize some will read my comments and say that I understand nothing about the current situation..that is probably accurate. That said here it goes...Not only is Israel a modern, robust democracy but it is LIGHTYEARS ahead of any other country in the region in almost every legal and moral respect. To try and push Arabs out of the system (or the country) would simply be used by Israels' foes as proof that the Jewish state has an unfair attitude towards anyone that doesn't fit their idea of an "IDEAL" citizen. Israel is a mature and spirited state and doesn't need to exclude any of its' citizens..remember..you are THE beacon of hope to not only the countries in the region but to those within your borders. I.'m sorry if I droned on to long but I get worked up when I start to cheerlead for DEMOCRACY...peace Mark.
73. A Lieberman
Michael Pinter ,   USA   (08.19.06)
Who does this Lieberman think he is? Dictating Palestinians who were born in Palestine what to do while this self righteous hypocrite was born in Russia and immigrated to Palestine. The hypocracy of these foreigners.
74. rami 44
erly ,   toronto   (08.19.06)
Dear Rami, You give me hope for the future. If only there were more like you. I have spoken to so many Israeli's who want to connect with you, and do through many projects, including camps. The ultra Orthodox will be more difficult, and will never accept you, but they are a minority and they throw insults, not bombs. They hate reform, and secular Jews as well.
75. Call It Treason
Dave Levi ,   Burbank. USA   (08.19.06)
Neither a pledge or a loyalty oath will change anything involving Israeli Arab loyalty (to Israel). They can say what they want, on the Koran and to Allah, it won't mean anything. Mr. Lieberman is spinning his wheels. Israeli-Arabs are elected legally under Israeli laws, and that is the key to resolving this. The laws should be changed to prevent what is tantamount to treason and sedition. For example, the Knesset should be able to evict a member, if certain ethics are violated. This procedure should not be a paper tiger but effective. Individual Arabs, or Jews for that matter, who violate laws pertaining to aiding Israel's declared enemies, who aid Hamas/ Hezbollah, who aid in the commission of crimes against Israeli citizens (and property) must be indicted, brought before a court, and, if guilty, incarcerated, including hanging (a 12.00 rope accomplishes a lot). Using half-baked measures (oaths) will be futile. I mean, if my Senator shouted in the Senate support for Bin Ladin, or the insurgency (Iraq), there would be an outcry heard around the state (California). If someone aids Hezbollah here, and found, they will be prosecuted, and sent to one of our famous prisons. That is how a country deals with these 5th columnists.
76. Medina Betoch Medina
Yoel   (08.19.06)
As for Hezb into Lebanon, these MKs can decide to own an armed branch, and attack neigbours. Remove them from the scene before they become more important and dangerous. They could ingnite the next arab-israeli war; and this time Israel could be blamed and condemned.
77. @#26
heinzy ,   Vancouver, B.C.; Can   (08.19.06)
I think you have received a 'second hand' brain.
78. Yet another missed PR opportunity
Elle   (08.19.06)
Videotape interviews with Israeli Arabs asking if they would rather live in Israel as Israeli citizens or live in Palestine under the Palestinian authority. You will see where they prefer to live and then we will see how much they prefer Israel.
79. the root of the problem is that you stole my house in Haifa
Kamal ,   Jenin   (08.19.06)
80. erly, #74, you are an idiot
Ari   (08.19.06)
81. Kamal, #79
Ari   (08.19.06)
Haifa doesnt belong to you. Neither does Jenin. Go to saudi arabia where you belong. Eretz yisrael belongs to us.
82. To Kamal # 79 in Shomron
Ovadia ,   Israel   (08.19.06)
You left your squater quarters in Haifa,good riddence....Now get the hell out of the Shomron,you are an Illegal Squater ,pulluting Eretz Israel. After fighting for years for your rights,you and your people have made me see the true root of the problem.The problem is your culture of hate,murder & non compromise. so now...from a former Shalom Achshav activist...this is what i believe : Your Illegal squatting on our land is temporary,and in time we will unite you with your roots in Jew-Free Saudi Arabia,or any other of your brotherly Arab countries. No agreement with you and your kind is worth the paper it is written on.You are not to be trusted,in fact,you are to be monitored at all times as to determine your foul intentions to kill us. It is time we tell you the truth,even if it hurts,even if your left wing islamofascist apeasers in the west will scream the usual nonesense. Go to a travel agency near you,and start scouting your options. Stop complaining and behaving like the eternal victim cum international beggar.The reason you cant acheive anything positive is that you are all not in your land,you are rootless here. ..Bil Karib. -)
83. to #71
Sivan ,   Israel   (08.19.06)
Israel was never for the arabs, it isn't and it will never be. The quicker you accept this the better. Your pals are arabs who belong in arab countries, there are plenty of them around. You can pick and choose.
84. treat them like family and they'll act like it
DE Teodoru ,   NY USA   (08.20.06)
Your occupation was almost a half century Holocaust-- but not always. Afterall, there was a time when Shin Bet had 32,000 Palestinian informants. Now Palestinian youth are maddmen in deep depression. Help give them reason to live and hope and they will call you "brother" forever more. Try to consider how much more secure you would be with neighbors that call you "brother" instead of "devil." You are, afterall, genetic kith and kin. That's why you both have the SAME right to the SAME land. Now divvy it up the way your father Abraham would have wanted you to!
85. Both Books on the same shelf
termite   (08.20.06)
for starters. More respect and less suspect. Politicians and strongmen will always be self-serving and the people are either bait or hostages. Halal and Kosher can be on the same plate. Dive in.
86. #1
hanan ,   canada   (08.21.06)
i thought your from usa or was that a freudean slip.
87. #8, selective memory
hanan ,   canada   (08.21.06)
you guys are a hoot, you come and take their land and then pretend it is yours and condemn them and say they should live in the state of jews. What a riot you are. Takes balls.
88. # 87,the joke is you
ovadia   (08.21.06)
Learn our history b4 you come on here and tell us we took their land. They are squatters on our land,have been for 300 years.it took us 300 yrs to rid our land from squatters during the Shoftim era,we ARE PATIENT. have some more maple syrup and watch hokey,it is about all you can understand coming from Canadastan. ROLFLMAO. CHEERS EH?
89. Arabs in Israel
Lilly   (08.22.06)
If you don't know where Arabs born in Israel stand what are you doing in the Knesseth? Haven't you heard their representatives wishing the elimination of Israel? If you investigate their activities you will see now they represent Hamas and Hezbollah. Now is the time to get rid of those extremist elements.
90. To Neil Edmond - Canada
Lilly   (08.22.06)
The same way that the world tolerates the expulsion of Jews from Arab countries, it should understand that we cannot have our enemies within our country. Wait a few years and see how the Arabs will act in Canada. Look at the U.K. and the problems they are giving the British.
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