As someone who is in their mid-20s and lived in 3 different countries (US, Germany and Israel), I can generally say, as others have pointed out, that there is a decline globally with the young people. While it is true there have been cases of knifing, beatings, drug abuse, loud and rude behavior in Israel... I have seen some far more scary things in Europe and the US. In the part of the U.S. I was living in, you had to worry about teenage punks who got their hands on hand guns and became part of a gang. It was very possible that a gang fight could break out in broad daylight and they would have no qualms about shooting across a multi lane street where someone could easily die of a stray bullet. Murder was an everyday occurrence with at least one being reported each evening. This was not how the area was like when my parents were young. In Germany ( as well as other European cities and countries I have visited), I have had drug addicts harass me at train stations, seen teenagers trash stuff for the "fun of it" (i.e. kicking out the glass of a bus stop, tossing stones at glass signs at train stations), seen several cases of alcohol poisoning, had a an acquaintance get sent to hospital because he was beaten up by a drunk at a pub when he asked them to stop smoking in his face, and made sure to avoid being outside May 1st because of the so-called anarchists showing they are against the "man" by trashing a city each year. This is of course being filmed with the expensive mobile phone cameras that mommy and daddy provided. :-P Rude and loud behavior is not the monopoly of Israeli teens. It's everywhere in Western society. In other words, quite whining. Israelis are not the worst, but certainly not the best. Parents need to install a sense of discipline like mine did and the kids may strive to be productive adults, instead of appearing as the dysfunctional brat on programs like the "World's Strictest Parents."

these are the same persons that you give them guns and send them to our area

whether young or old is a disgusting individual. No sense of common decency. No patience. No respect for others or for public property. No idea whatsoever of how to behave in public. Push and shove, jump the line, litter the streets, shout in public on the phone, smoke under a no smoking sign and when asked to stop tells you to get stuffed, uses the car horn for no apparent reason, does not stop at pedestrian crossings. Take a look at the average restaurant table after a family or friends have partaken of a meal, it reminds you of pig sty. Am I excessive in my criticism ? No I could say much more, it would not be printed.

This is typical in any developed Western society, its exactly the same here in the UK but people grow out of it, its just being a teenager! No nothing to do with occupation Salma, its the fact that we don't live under Sharia law so we won't get beheaded if we have a bit too much to drink! Israel shouldn't worry, ynet makes a news story out of some idiots misbehaving on an 18-30s holiday, if the BBC were to do the same about British youth there would be hundreds of articles written daily, when ynet reports on such it just shows me that the problem isn't so grave as it seems as if it comes as a shock to Israel! I wouldn't worry teenagers will be teenagers and I am one :D

Forget about Israeli youth for the moment. Wealthy Israelis are cultivating a horrible reputation. Indeed I have spoken with American Jews who would simply prefer not to interact with israeli businessmen. They act like pigfish capitalists, they flaunt their wealth and whether deserved or not have the reputation for unscrupulous behavior.

I agree with some opinions rg children being left alone to video, Internet, TV, etc... for hours every day. The world is changing dramatically with the introduction of internet, social networks like facebook, cell phones. We don't know yet what influence it will exert long term on us as individuals and societies in the future. Therefore, we have to look back and try to understand what do we and our children need to develop properly. Childhood is given us to learn! We humans are being born with a very capable brain, but with a very limited software pre-installed! Therefore, we are given many years by nature to learn so we can handle our lives in adulthood. So far very simple. Now my question: An average child in basically all industrialised countries is spending several hours daily (5-7h) in front of the TV, or gaming, or PC. Every day precious time is wasted. Instead of going outside to play, instead of reading a book, instead of playing piano, instead of playing chess, instead of painting, instead of seeing friends, etc...., they sit in front of this boxes and wasting - yes wasting the only time in their lives which is given to be a child. Obviously there is more I could write rg this issue, it's just a short thought, but we all in civilised world better start to think and to act, how to control the destruction of the humanity, dignity in this world of bites and bits. Greetings from US.

you can't compare them to American kids. I can walk any street in Israel without hesitation or fear anytime day or night. The difference between dealing with an American kid and an Israeli kid is about 75 pounds of smack down.

to other foreign places to see how good are teens there ... My God !!!

andbuilding blocks to throw at police officers, sound like you need to wake up.

salma is not right but gathering of people for the sake of money not theland is the fault as there i no other values only to get money it is easier for the youths to stand on check points laughing and looking to palastinians id and get money than to study in univercity it is the military state forever

that teenage misbehaviour is in no way defining for Israel. Replace "israeli" with any other of the neurotic western countries, including my own, and it will fit always. Interesting topic, profoundly mistreated by a poor journalist with an agenda. Israel-bashing by proxy. Large cities in my country are plagued with violence by arab gangs. Arson, gunfire, muggings on daily basis. Caused by Israeli occupation, Salma #8?

i totally agree with the writer. as a new olah, one of the things i miss from the old country is the respect students accord teachers. and what is the big deal with kids being more independent here? has this helped them develop better character? a glimpse at their "i-me-and-myself" behavior proves the answer is no.

Unfortunately, people with time get used to violence, even we the Palestinians, even though we are peaceful to the farthest extent, :) we had a share of this violent culture, but without doubt with the time and when the occupation eliminated completely,everything will come back nice and normal.

The issue is definitely a global one: the "world" has grown...not just indifferent but so liberal and fanatic that it's "hip" to violently support your cause or even terrorist. However this is NOT an excuse. Technology is cool and the new freedoms that come along with it are fantastic but ir can NEVER replace family and a meaningful life. Most ambitions today are purely for self satisfa tion, not meaning: which is addicting because satisfaction only lasts as long as the "candybar" is still in your mouth. Once it's swallowed, it's over and we look for more. In such a tumultuous existence that Israelis have, it is IMPOSSIBLE for it not to traumatized and have an impact on the psyche. This, along with perhaps the worlds worst parenting (Israelis topping the list) will destroy every ounce of a childs potentiality and ability to lead an empowered life. Many of the mizrachim who are more or less observant are an exception. It is the secular Israeli that is the absolute worst behaved people on earth. Their entire purpose in life seems to be to party, engage in tremendous excess and act like complete lunatics. In the US, it has become a problem not to mention an embarassment. A Jew can't even find a good reason for ahavat Yisrael with many of these because they don't want it and don't give a damn. As much as we'd like to pretend that this article is blowing things out of proportion, it's not: it is a very serious issue. When Israelis are getting arrested left and right here in the states for stealing, deceiving, absconding with peoples money (as with many Israeli contractors here, who have the worst reputations) it IS a HUGE problem and a complete and utter disgrace. Americans have been taking a very strong opposition to it: they start supporting the Palestinians and bashing Israel because their experiences have been bad with them! This gives more courage to suicide bombers and terrorists to carry out aggressions against Jews everywhere. Indeed, the I'll and disgusting behavior of Israeli youth and younger adults (and many secular Israeli parents) comes back to haunt ALL Jews in the most horrendous way. This ripple effect is a real phenomenon and must be taken serious by ALL Israelis and nipped in the bud NOW! We're getting our @$$es kicked in the PR war and our own worst enemy are our own children. Jewish traditions strengthen midos and potential: tossing our heritage out if the window as too many Israelis have done, will be the death of our nation (G-d forbid). We're Jews, NOT "westerners, Europeans or Americans! We have the most powerful traditions, history and heritage of perhaps all people on the planet. Why can't Israelis see this!?? So sad that after 2,000 years of exile, we're still behaving like idiots after we get back home. Let history show us: we were given a 3rd shot at building our nation but our parents were just too selfish and too damn lazy to raise their children properly. Who knows? Maybe we don't deserve a homeland. (G-d forbid). The time for positive change is NOW! We can't wait another minute!

for their bad parenting, blaming Israel won't change the fact that sending teens to junctions with knives to confront armed men, don't pali got responsibility toward their children safty, you see no matter what if any of the kids I watch might even go to place that can harm him/her I would ground them and throw the key for their own safty, but palis don't care if the children get hurt they r very proud of the children who do adult work because the adults r bunch of cowards. so if you take responsibility toward your own children you will enable the situation to continue with full gear.

All you Jew haters, talk about the religious people, complaining about state funds towards Jewish education. We all see where the trillions of shekels went (down the tube), to educate Israeli youth. We see on the street the outcome. Yair Lapid, I am still worried about your son.

One can complain all one wants about the Israeli govt's poor PR capabilities, etc - but this is an issue that starts at home... No amount of pretty brochures can correct the direct damage that Israeli citizens cause to their own image. Obnoxious behavior by Israeli citizens abroad does incaluable harm to Israel's reputation. You can complain all you want about anti-Semitism, etc - but let's call a spade a spade: ugly behavior is scorned no matter who it eminates from. Israelis certainly get no free pass. Meanwhile, an opposite, positive example: Japanese are widely viewed as being exceptionally polite and neat, particularly as tourists. It can be done! In the 50's and early 60's, Israeli visitors had a very postive reputation overseas as being friendly, innovative and fairly low key. what happened??

My neighbor put a sofa in the hallway and smokes, drinks coffee,talks on his cell phone and has guests sit there and smoke also. His young daughter sees this and sits with her friends and talks loudly. This is next to my door. No amount of talking to him helps.Why should I be annoyed by his noise and smell his cigarettes? I should not even have to listen to him and his rug rat talking loudly next to my door. Unfortunately he is the best neighbor in the building. The others and their spawn thrown garbage and dirty water in my garden. You cannot talk to them and this was the way they were raised. You cannot teach an old pig how to be a human.

I was talking to an elderly gentleman who said that if he was walking in a mall in the past, the youths would move over and let him walk without issue. Now the youths barge their way right down the middle and if he doesn't move over, he is afraid of being knocked down. The problem is not just in Israel. No respect for the elderly and no safety for strangers.

Matty, the settlers are not illegal, and yes, the bible tells that we are the chosen people. This does not mean that we are better, but we were chosen to receive the laws and share them with the world. By the way, the land that the Palestinian Arab population is occupying is the G-d given land given to the Jewish people, if you believe in the bible.

Does somebody of the talkbackers know the BNE AKIBA Youth? They should be a model for the Israeli youth.Also in the IDF they are known as the best soldiers. Let us be positive and learn from them,instead of criticising.

the consequences of occupation for the whole israeli society. Now the weakest, the young, become victims.. and actors. Isn't this the way they are being prepared how to treat Palestinians ?

yet a big snob. He is so self centered that there is no room for any other human being in his presence since he believes himself to be the sole representative of perfection upon the face of the earth