Unfortunately, according to the polls many Arabs suppprt terrorism.

yes, most of the terrorists were university students taking courses in bomb making while being in the pseudo engineering schools around the usa or elsewhere. pity they all didn't put their degrees to good use. they would have been able to change economies and societies in their arab countries and help educate their brothers who were less fortunate academically. imagine these degreed terrorists going back to their arab countries with all the knowledge they accumulated in university to better their societies. well, i guess all their knowledge indeed went up in smoke. it is incomprehensible to me that an educated person would rather implode himself than put all his knowledge to good use for his people and for his country. even iran as we speak is sending "students" to russia to train and learn how to enrich uranium and bring the atom bomb knowledge back to their country. you know, the same bomb that will help iran "wipe israel off the map". guess hate is stronger than the need to progress despite it all.

I meant more and more Jews worldwide are shedding their sympathies for the homeland. Not less and less.

Uh, duh yourself...have you ever heard of selectivity? And has it ever crossed your mind that in your civilized world what you are shown, what you study, what you read, what you listen to, what you watch on TV, is the accumulation of years of selective representation? At least in our schools we read not only Saleh but also Melville, Rousseau, and Hume. Yes, sweet heart, keep believeing that all Arabs are 9/11 bombers, rioters, etc. Maybe it is better for some people to remain in their ignorance, in their disillusionment. Safer for them, cuccooned in their land of "civilization." Please tell me where American civilization commences, where culture begins. Ours begins where yours is just ending. Have you ever tasted a sampling of centuries of Iraqi culture? No - because today it is being intentionally fogged by the smokes of the Iraqi war that consequently blind your own vision. Have you ever read at least a book or two by Mahfouz, Gebran, Maalouf, Adonis, etc? Have you ever asked yourself how many words in English come from Arabic, or wondered why it is that those words are mostly to do with chemistry, maths, physics? Oh, I forget, you're not interested to know. So kindly refrain from making your oh-so- witty generalizations that, if one prods just a bit, reveal to be a flimsy facade covering those nasty racist and intolerant fangs of yours.

Israel is perhaps the most tolerant nation on earht by any standards. IT is infinately more tolerant than one could expect givent the threat that its biggest minority poses to its existence. Despite Years of Jewish-Arab warfare, in which Israel's Arabs have played a large parte, Israeli arabs have not only never been oppressed, they have never been so much as inconvenienced. As a mater of fac they have been pampered. There is a ministry within the knesset to assist hte arabs and Knesset lobby, and private Arab Rights groups mostly made up of Jews. Anyone who so much as whispers that arabs are a threat is silenced immediately. At least two political parties whose platforms included removoal of the Arabs from the territories (and monetary compensation for them) Have been effectively outlawed. meanwhile Arab parties whose platform includes calls to change the country's flag and national anthem and in effect to make it a muslim state are allowed into the Knesset. There are regular Arab gatherings and protests at which they call for Israel's destruction, and yet Israeli police-men are always sent out to protect them. And once in 2000 when one of those protests turned into a riot and the cops fired in self-defense, the Israeli public and trhe Israeli media gave them hell. When America was at war with Japan Americans felt great animosity towards the japanese, and understandably so; after all the Japanese had launched an unprovoked attack and killed thousands of Americans. The Arabs have launched now four major and hundreds of minor unprovoked attacks against Israel killing tens of thousands of innocent people, and yet Israel bends over backwards to accomodate its arab population (which as a whole is much more hostile to Israel than the Japanese ever were to America). Something Is wrong in Israel, but it isn't bigotry, it's the exact opposite.

Daniel you are bang-on correct. How can a people, (Israelis) embrace or trust a people (Arabs) who have verbally and physically throughout history , proclaim themselves to be the sworn enemy of the Jews--who are descendants from pigs and apes. The Jews who spill the blood of the Arab kids to make matzah and infect them with AIDS. How's that for communication Lynne?. That is what the Arabs teach their babies and at the age of 2 can recite all the insane blood libels against the Jews. If the Arabs would stop, there would be peace. If the Arabs would stop, they would come into the 21st century thru the brilliance of their neighbour, Israel. The Palis were given a greenhouse when Gaza was totally relinquished to them. The palis destroyed their future in 10 seconds. The immortal words of Golda Meir..."there will be peace when an Arab mother loves her child more than she hates the Jews". You go talk to them Lynne and tell us what you learn. Be careful, they like to play this game with foreigners, its called "kidnapping and conversion to Islam by sword'. Have fun !!

Really Jamoul. You sound so tolerant. As smart and bright as you thought the Jews were.I would love to see you embrace citizens from your neigboring country who would contstantly fire rocket barrages at your home, your family and friends homes. Remember Jamoul, your own words, "This is a sign of ignorance. I always belived that Jews are smart and bright. It seems that it is the time to consider my views.". So under attack, because you are so intelligent, you would continue to love your enemy who only wished death and destruction on your head. That doesn't sound very intelligent to me.

Like it or not, there is both truth and falsity regarding stereotypes. We may not like to admit this, but stereotypes usually are based on empirical observation over time. It is better not to dwell on the negatives for the sake of society and the world, for there are always exceptions to the rule. However, stereotypes can be usefull as any other knowledge when applied properly.

Those who voted favor 75% HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT HISTORY....from the dawn of alpahbet in phoenicia lebanon, to the medical discoveries in Arabia, to the civilization in Andalosia.....The dawn of civilization was in the middle east, not in europe nor in America....when u do a poll educate people first!!!! and to the americans what civilization do u have???

If there is somebody, who isn't much smart and knows he isn't much smart and somebody who is smarter. and then comes somebody and asks them both, what they think of the other and the smart says the other is less smart and the less smarter says the other is smarter, should the conclusion really be, that the smarter is biased and should be reeducated, until he falsely sais the other is smart??? I don't want to say that Arabs are stupid and jews are smart, but one should 1) say what "smartness" means, then 2) check, how far this would be true or Arabs and Jews. Who now asks for Jewish reeducation has the clear claim that Arabs are smart. CHECK IT OUT, before blaming.

that lead one to biased one way or the other. No fast rule about who is smart or not and good or bad.

First of all Daniel I amm glad you left Israel, and Moses from Johannesburg tweeslagtige hoerenkind

The migrant workers, people on the bus, and kids in the mall are what Israelis see and how they form their views. A child who plays on a computer sees another child hearding goats or on telivision throwings stones. What is a Israeli child to think of the Arabs they see?

What about the Arab Jews ??? to wich side they belong ... to the Jewish or the Arabs ?? .

Obviously, not all Arabs/Muslims are suicide bombers or would think of blowing up office buildings. It is, however, a fact that all suicide bombers and the guys who blew up the WTC were Muslims. It is a fact, too, that the people who threaten the West and Israel with destruction on a daily basis are Muslims. I guess, our press is making up all of Ahmadinejad's rants, and seeing and hearing raving Sheiks on videos is trick photography and dubbing. I have no tolerance for or the desire to "make friends" with people of whom I can't be sure whether they're only putting up a friendly front to suit the moment or whether they're waiting for the opportunity to do me harm. I can have too many friends with whom I don't have to wonder about that. Maybe my idea of "civilization" is different from yours. All the glorious, ancient histories of anyone don't mean a thing, if they are now raving maniacs. Cyrus was more civilized and enlightened than all the Muslim leaders of today put together. That, unfortunately, doesn't do people any good who are getting murdered now, does it? Maybe it is Muslims who need to get in touch with their history and past and ask themselves how they got from there to here. It is certainly bewildering to me. Your telling me to "kindly refrain from making my oh-so-witty gerneralizations that, if one prods just a bit, reveal to be a flimsy facade covering those nasty racist and intoerant fangs of mine," is typical. You, Honeybuns, can tell me all day long what to say or whether or not to show my fangs. Maybe some downtrodden female in your neck of the woods will have to pay attention to that sort of thing, but I do not. Sorry, Cupcake, it simply won't happen. In this place, I'm allowed to run my mouth all day long and most of all, I have the luxury of being able to laugh at you for acting like the idiot you want to make me out to be. It does amuse me, though, that you notice my fangs. I have nasty claws, too. Oh, and by the way, I'm an immirgrant to this backwater of "civilization." I was educated in Germany and France. I couldn't care less how many words have their roots in Arabic. The Punic Wars helped me a lot more with English. NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXT!

Better to be dirty from out side and clean heart and mind than to look clean and insid with dirty heart and mind full of hate to all what's not Jew like most of the Jewish .

You are correct. But over time Arabs destroy everything! They do not appreciate nothing, want something for nothing and act like spoiled brats. If you know your history the Arab empire did have might. They got arrogant, destroyed their own empire and got conqered. If you don't beleive me look around you! Arabs have changed over the years. it is not my fault or jews YOU HAVE YOURSELVES TO BLAME. good luck rebuilding.

This is pure and simple propoganda. Israeli Arabs have never been so much as inconvenienced? How about the laws that prohibit selling land to them? That's a pretty major inconvenience. How about the fact that Israel won't provide citizenship for their (non-citizen) spouses? How about going to school and instead of learning the histories of their people, learning Jewish history and about the eeeevil that is Arab society. These are random examples and do not approach being comprehensive. I don't know where you were living when you lived in Israel, but I heard plenty of people calling Arabs threats, and I assure you they weren't whispering. I've been with Israeli Arab friends and been (as a group) harassed by young Israeli boys and no one rushed over or bent over backwards to be the great protector you envision. I will never, ever justify or condone suicide bombing. However, to pretend that Israeli civilians are the only civilians hurt or killed is ridiculous. Building explosions, air raids and other Israeli attacks bring about many civilian deaths, not to mention those on the Palestinian side of the "border" who die for lack of water or waiting to cross checkpoint to access medical care. And for those commentors who are writing things like "if you think the Arabs are so nice, why don't you go to Ramallah and see what happens," I have. And I've been welcomed and treated as a friend, because I was coming as a friend. I'm a 23 year old Jewish guy and I've been treated with kindness and respect. I don't think Israelis are an awful evil people--indeed many of my closest friends are Israeli--so please spare me lectures on how awesome Israel is, but this monolithic, Israel/Jews=good, Arabs/Palestinians/Muslims=bad is just absurd. Attempt to feel some measure of compassion. We are breeding hate on both sides, and then wondering where the hate comes from. This is where is comes from.

Looks like you're downtrodden by your own narrow-mindedness. You just proved me right. Just a word from the wise, if you want to express an opinion, try to be civil. Freedom of expression or "running your mouth" does not extend to being disrespectful of others or other cultures. Or else be ready to listen to what you won't like. And it seems to be you don't like being criticized. If you read a piece of news, be critical and questioning. Why, aren't those the very same western standards you so staunchly defend? Instead of just swallowing down everything you read. Finally, the leaders of a country do not represent the people or the mentality or the culture. And you seem to address all Arab countries but have in ur mind a place such as Iran (which isnt Arab). Read habibti read

Thank you for your talkbacks. It is people like you who bring hope to the future. Being open to knowing other people on a personal level and not believing every stereotype that is generated is what makes us understand how blinded we have been. I have Jewish friends here in Canada, and I have been inside their homes, eaten and joked with them. A lot of times the way we are raised, the way we are educated, makes us develop negative attitudes without really understanding the human realities around us.

thank you :) .. you like my comment.. I like your personal experience on y-net and with the Pakistani girl!! you have proved my point.. if we all admit that we have a few basic misconceptions about others we will be capable of communicating.. when we free ourselves from the picture our leaders and media try to paint for us about the other side we will find ourselves rejecting the idea of war against the other side.. we will be able to stand up and let those in charge realise that war is an unacceptable option!! and on this occassion I thank y-net for giving me the opportunity to get to know Israelis better and have a good Israeli friend!!

LOL

thank you two and all others on this forum who believe in the need to learn more about the other side .. Libneniyyeh, I think you already know my opinion with your talkbacks.. in case you don't then I'll tell you that I ALWAYS enjoy reading them.. Aviv, I truely hope that you will be capable of opening a door to peace between Arabs and Israelis.. with more people like you I think we might get somewhere.. God had chosen you for the message of peace.. hold on to it..