Anti-Arab feelings did not arise out of thin air. Anti-Arab feeling is the reaction to Arab behavior. If anything, the author should commend Israelis for their patience in the face of constant hostility from Israeli Arabs.

Please think twice before you write. You mix everything and talk about arrogance but believe it's OK to count yourself between the ranks of the owners of truth (talk about arrogance) More than that, you talk about Talmud and Maimonides, what do you know about that? What you read in Internet? Please, keep doing your things and stop trying to look intelligent!

Declare all Carmel area a National Monument (or National Park) To prevent any future incidents expel all illegal squatters from Carmel Area without any ethnic preferences (be it arab druze or jew)

See the books of the Rambam (Maimonides) and his commentaries on the mitzvot (commmandments).

Never mind what happened in the past few days. The loss of life, the injuries, the destruction... Nope. Let's concentrate on the real arsonists: those racist Jews. "the bearers of the racism torch are not letting off", she says. No such thing as Arab racism. No such thing as Arab violence. No such thing as the Arab strategy of taking over Jewish neighborhoods. No such thing as genuine Jewish fear of Arab violence. It's all Jewish racism, racism, racism. Yeah! And, if only we're nice and turn the other cheek, maybe they'll accept us. And as a bonus, maybe there won't be any more arson in Israel. Ahem.... Did you ever try to interview Jews who actually live next to Arab neighbors? Such as the Jews of Peki'in who were driven out of their ancient Jewish city in a way that was anything but gentle. And many other even more tragic experiments in coexistence during the 20th century? A little research in actual mixed neighborhoods should be required before accusing Jews of racism. And at least a passing reference to the fact that Jews are not allowed in Arab-only towns. How about that?

I actually agree with this op-ed. Israel is rapidly becoming a racist state operating in clear violation of many international laws vis-a-vis the illegal settlements, home demolitions, and now this nonsense from the rabbis.

How can we fulfil our duty as a "Light unto the nations" if we won't even live next door to them? Avraham Avinu was known for his showing by example to non-Jews how people should live and act to each other, but these racist Rabbis reject that. Next on the hit list will be Ethiopians, Mizrachim and Russians.

Rambam? How can Ynet even publish this stuff? Notice that there are precisely zero actual references to anything. She's just blathering.

If she did, she would abhor Islam, which is intrinsically racist. In fact, Yael Gvirtz, in her tireless attacks on Jews, is the racist here.

Christian Palestinian should be more concerned with the mistreatment Christian Arabs receive at the hand of their Muslim neighbors all over the Muslim world, including the PA and Gaza. And Ivan, Jews have lived with their Arab neighbors as Dhimmis in the past. Not a happy experience. Muslims are not interested in Jewish "light unto nations". They just want to dominate and convert by force if necessary. Or worse. Israel gave them more rights than they have in any of their Muslim countries, but they are quick to accuse Jews of racism without looking at their own much worse shortcomings in their treatment of other races and religions.

By all means let's end the illegal occupation by the Arabs of Jewish lands. All land west of the Jordan belongs to the Jews for a Jewish national homeland, that is what international laws state. Now where is there a single legal claim for the Arabs? As for racism, let's see. We have ethnic cleansing and official apartheid by the Arabs and here in Israel we have equal rights. As for 50 Rabbis and their opinion, haven't you heard of free speech? Or does that only apply to leftists? Compared to the calls for our genocide from the PLO, Hamas and the PA it hardly warrants comment.

It is a brave article with true self examination. She points out to the need to deal with it's own making existential problems and threats . Israel got drunk with power and arrogance this fire exposes it's Achilles pendant, the world is not against Israel but against what Israel does with sadist occupation and apartheid system

The poll showing that 50% of the Jewish population doesn't want to live with Arab neighbors is not necessarily a result of racist attitudes. If they fear Arabs justifiably or imagined, then fear is the prime motive for their negative attitude. If their objection is primed by ideology, as represented by the 50 rabbis, then we are faced with another problem. For the overwhelming number of objectors, Judaism or a distortion thereof, plays a relatively minor role.

I LIKE YOUR PEN ; )

They constantly come out with vile despicable statements on just about everything. They need to just shut the *^*^ up and not make it a daily mitzah to spew out unadultered horse crap day in and day out. They have their own media services – they have newspapers (no women of course) and a radio satiation – let them confined their daily diatribe of horse crap to those outlets. This country would cease to exist if it was left to the Haredim – there’d be no defense forces, no work force, nothing - The religious need to get on with their loathsome lives and learn when not the cross the line.

Of course not one politician has the guts to come out and say the rabbis who signed that letter should be fired. Certainly they won't be fired, although they should not only be removed from public service but also tried for racism. "I have met the enemy and he is us" (Pogo/Walt Kelly)

still having difficulty understanding why the TBers are urgently trying to prove that Ms. Gvirtz is less intelligent than they are. And for sure I can't understand why most TBers are attacking Ms. Gvirtz personally. What's up with that? Did ALL of you miss the polite debating lesson at school? The article is an opinion piece. In an opinion piece one chooses one's facts states them uses those facts to state their case and make their point. Ms. Gvitz did just that and in my opinion she did it in a concise precise and positive manner. If people don't agree with her that's fine let them not agree...but really and this is to most of the regular TBers here...why do you ALWAYS sound so pompous and why are you always so rude! What are all of you so angry about?!

Sir-I hope Yael Gvirtz message to fight racism is directed to the Israelis both Jews and Arabs He should condemn the PA for punshing Isaeli Arabs who are trying to sell property the Jews The Rabbis message is not theofficial policy of the Government,while the PA issue is an official one

Jew=bad

These rabbis said what we all think but are too polite to say out loud. Be honest, we really don't want to live in mixed neighborhoods and I dont think most Arabs do either. We all keep our own culture very well in separate neighborhoods. The liberals should be honest. I studied with a young Arab man, educated high class guy who said that he once tried to rent an apartment in Tel Aviv and nobody would rent to him.