I agree this really is scary, whats next? With the likes of Shas getting more powerfull will they be firing gay workers next or those who are not considered religious enough? Or how about single mothers ? Sounds ridiculous i know but with these people in power anything is possible.

like zahalka, tibi, etc... and the arab political leadership and parties in israel are very non nationalistic and a severe impediment to the arab israeli citizens to integrate, assimilate and be part of the israeli society in israel. these arab mk's do more damage to their constituents and those citizens they represent and those who elect them that any israeli government can do. by insisting in isolating the arab citizens of israel, these mk's are the RACISTS, not the israeli government. then, people like zahalka, tibi, et al, cry foul and cry racism when the laws of the country encompase not only jews but also arabs. you arabs live here in israel under the law of one nation for all. you get benefits, you own homes, you get education, welfare and governmental compensation and also water, electricity and heat and many times food while few of you pay the taxes for these services. for your leaders to complain that you are given nothing because israel is racist, is the hight of hypocricy.

, or any other non-Jewish Israeli citizen who served--and fire some Jewish workers who didn't serve, and there goes the accusation that it is targeted against Arabs.

It seems to me that the jobs that these Arabs lost ought to be redefined as National Service positions. Now go discuss this with Lieberman-- he's in need of a few brownie points. Talk to Tibi about this and you'll just get more bad press.

Agreed. Now concider this: These Arabs work for the employment agency "Hashmira Security" which in turn works for the railroad. The railroad pays Hashmira by the hour for the use of each worker and Hashmira in turn pays a percentage of this hourly wage to each worker. In recent years Hashmira has been in court several times for breaking Labor Laws. Perhaps the railroad is just divorcing Hashmira.

contrary to what many think, there are many arabs in the idf who do excellent work at helping protect the country, and there are many israeli's who DON"T do the army. As long as they are just excluding people based on military background, then its not racist.

I have met plenty of Israeli citizens, American and European, who served in the military of their country of origin prior to moving to Israel ...Do you truly live in Israel? In addition, to reiterate the point made in other posts here...Arab citizens do serve in the IDF and if they object to active military then they can do national service in their own communities ... there are options to serve one's country....They choose NOT to...so why should they complain of discrimination when it is them who discriminate against the citizens of the country that feeds, clothes and educates them...They don't like it, they can always move to any one of the 22 countries where they have "their brothers and sisters"

Airborne: First of all, Arabs can and do volunteer for the IDF. Druse, bedouins, Chircassans and Christians, but also Arabs. I served for more than two years in an Israeli armored unit holding the line sector adjacent to a Druse battalion on the Golan. In my 40 years in Israel, I have met dozens of veterans from many armies, including those of the US, British, French, Russian and even Iran. You must move in the wrong circles. Try to get out more. ghostq: I feel safer with a Druse or bedouin guard than with some Jewish jobnik who's never heard a shot fired in anger-- and I don't make the same generalizations that you seem to like. We're talking about a specific case with specific conditions. BTW, anyone, Jew or Arab, who wants to harm someone else doesn't have to rely on a licensed gun...

Out of 100 employees being laid off, 40 of them are Arabs, the other 60 are Jews. Israel Rail states that 60% of their employees are Arabs, so the ENTIRE Jewish staff is being terminated with just a few of the Arab ones. There are some really racist people making comments here.

As an avid Israel supporter, I must admit, I understand the rational behind the decision, but it is completelly wrong in its application. These workers whether Jews or Non Jews should not be fired as Serving or Doing national service was not a precondition for getting a Job with the Railroad company. When something is wrong , it is wrong. If that's becomes a condition for employment, then it should be applied to future candidate. Terminating presently employed Citizen or not, veterans or not is wrong, completely wrong because it was not a precondition. How do they get hired in the first place? Also this condition will put unneccessary burden on Arab's majority for many for personal conviction do not serve in the Army, though I understand they may serve their respective community as part of their National service. However, will serving their respective community amount to the spirit of the rule, which is Serving in IDF or having done NATIONAL SERVICE? If you look closely Arabs will more likely be excluded. As for the workers do not fire them. It Wrong, though I will not call it racist because if there are Jewish workers to be fired as well, then its not racism.

..and expel the Arabs from Judea, Samaria and Gaza and annex and reconquer those territories and rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and blast Iran to pieces and destroy Hamas, Hizballah, PLO and Fatah. Arabs and Muslim understand nothing else but violence.

This decision is plain wrong. It gives ammunition to those who equate Zionism with racism, Israel with discrimination against minorities. It should be reversed promptly. Against the background of the reaction to the Gaza campaign, this poor decision adds to Israel's hasbara challenges -- needlessly.

Especially #29, well said. #40 what is wrong with you? By your logic, then no one should ever try to improve, fix or change anything. Since the workers were already hired, I suppose if we discover some are Hamas collaborators, then they should not be fired because they were already collaborators when they were hired. Marginalizing Arabs who put Arab interests ahead of Israel is a small step in the RIGHT direction. Personally I would start with the Knesset first, but at least someone is doing something.