Opinion
The Arab who saved my boy
Racheli Malek-Boda
Published: 03.05.12, 17:17
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93 Talkbacks for this article
1. Thank you! You're not alone
Jewish Settler ,   Shomron Israel   (05.03.12)
Over the years, I have met many local Arabs, and held decent conversations with them. I honestly believe that there are enough like minded settlers and Arabs that prefer peaceful relations with us, to sort out our own backyard.
2. You know the answer
israel israeli ,   tel aviv   (05.03.12)
Most Arabs are good people. The reason you "can't trust Arabs" is that an Arab who helps a Jew risks being murdered by Fatah thugs. But more importantly, very few religious / rightists /settlers I know hate Arabs and treat them like inferiors. The biggest racists I meet are actually those who like to call themselves "Leftists". If you hate Arabs or treat them poorly, you should try to improve yourself and not condemn innocent people.
3. discovering the "other" is where it begins
avramele   (05.03.12)
In those of us not overwhelmed by ideological correctness from the right or left realism mixes with empathy, compassion with fear. Yes there are Arabs who wish us to be gone just as many of us wish them to dissapear. But most of us arab and Jew just seek a decent life with dignity and freedom. The author touches on the human truth that is the first step toward compromise. Thank you for your story.
4. Its the evil effect of political manipulators
Israeli grandma   (05.03.12)
We could all live-and-let-live, if only the extremists and hate merchants on both sides would shut up and go away. My family is in Samaria for very many years, and until Arafat and his gang with their enforcers arrived in the region, Arabs and Jewish locals got along pretty well. I heard many angry remarks about the Jews bringing Arafat to mess up their lives, and it was "the Jews" responsibility to get rid of him.
5. I have the same struggle as badly as yours.
Jade ,   Jerusalem   (05.03.12)
The only difference is I live at the Israeli side of the green line. My children study together with Jewish and Arabic ones. We wish one day both Jews and Arabs can live as one people and trust each other. It is not just the dream and it should be the hope. Put down the spears or weapons, rather work on plowshare and water system.Justice is not invented through the court or parliament, it is from our hearts, and we were born with it, because it is part of humanity.
6. Preparing for the future
Dalia Pergovitz ,   Kingston-ny   (05.03.12)
In the future, there will be only one country, where Jews and Arabs will be living together, in peace, harmony and prosperity. One Palestine, complete. This moving story is an example of how both communities can interact perfectly well. If you don't want one state, dear, move back to Israel.
7. If it quacks like a duck
Philos ,   Herzliya   (05.03.12)
looks like a duck and walks like a duck it is a duck. But this is an apartheid duck.
8. This is why I left Israel
Daniel ,   Gateshead, UK   (05.03.12)
This is one of the reasons why I left Israel. I just couldn't face it any more, the unnecessary hatred, the discrimination. It just doesn't make sense. Why hate each other? Why do we have to make the majority suffer for what a small minority does? Why can't innocent young children from Qalqilyah, who live just 13 kilometers from the beach, ever go to the beach? Why is it nearly impossible for normal, peaceful Palestinians to spend a day in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv? Or for us to spend one in Ramallah, as well... The reason of course is that we need to discriminate against the majority because it's the only way to prevent violence by the small minority. That doesn't make it any less painful. There is also no other solution, as long as the terror continues. But the terror will not stop, and therefore the Israeli security measures will not relax, and therefore, again, the fertile environment for more terrorism will not disappear. It's a vicious circle. I just couldn't face it any more and left.
9. So sad, I nearly Puked
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (05.03.12)
Why dont you get a room.
10. A Humanitarian Act
Lebanon   (05.03.12)
Arabs are not terrorists, they are peaceful persons, and they don't hate Jews because they are Jews, but they, as all the people in this small world, fight those who kill their children or steal their land. Helping your Child is a humanitarian act that any Arab will do in such situation.
11. #6. The name of the One State is Israel.
Chaim ,   Israel   (05.03.12)
#6. There already is One State, where Jews and Arabs can live together in peace. It is called Israel. It includes, and always will include, Judea and Samaria. However, those who want to end Israel as the sole Jewish Homeland will have to go.
12. #6 dalia. You don't really get it
Carl ,   USA   (05.03.12)
While this is a wonderful story highlighting the possibility of peaceful coexistence, you should undertand that the norm is for Arabs to live peacefully among Israeli Jews inside the "green line." Outside, this story gains attention because it is an unfortunate anomaly. Your concept of a single "Palestine" as the source of peace and harmony, with all that is antithetical to peace being inside Israel, just does not comport with reality.
13. it is simply
(05.03.12)
years of arab terrorism inside israel that brought this divide, this insecurity in the jews.
14. Another naive useful idiot
jeff ,   ranaana, israel   (05.03.12)
15. Jews and Arabs must join forces in order to survive.
Jake ,   USA   (05.03.12)
We must band together and expel the foreign instigators (US, UN, EU, Russia etc) from the Holy Land and let peace reign. Outside influence only causes war and infighting, which is exactly what the instigators want -- war and infighting -- as they dominate the region and rape its resources.
16. Jews safe under ISLAM
abdullah ,   Jordan   (05.03.12)
Jews have always had it best under Islamic rule. jews were more safe under abbasaid and ummayad then they are now in Israel. unfortunately under religous jewish or christian rule, all minorities are squashed. When Islam rules, Justice rules.
17. Toward a 3-states solution
Michael ,   California, USA   (05.03.12)
1. Israel, 80% Jews; 2. Yesha, Arabs 70%, Jews 30%; 3. Palestine, 95% Arabs.
18. Arab saved boy
Jeff ,   Ra'anana   (05.03.12)
Why "One Palestine" why not: "one Israel" You know why - because the Arab leadership will never accept a majority Jewish presence on "so-called" Muslim lands. BTW - Some Arabs are my best friends.
19. There are these, and there are those
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (05.03.12)
Back in 2005 I took a day trip from Haifa to Caesaria. Bus and taxi service from the old Roman ruins to the main road is very poor. After waiting a long while for a return bus, an Arab with his family gave me a ride back to the main road. Waiting for the bus back to Haifa, I was beckoned by a sherut heading north but empty, so he quoted me a good price. But mid-trip he started talking about how Jews run things, that "Roosevelt was a Jew", etc. (He also vastly over-estimated how many Jews there are.) Yes, he was an Arab. Reinhold Niebuhr in his classic "Moral Man and Immoral Society" noted how it was human nature - and often quite sensible - to support and trust those closest to you. Even the Talmud talks of supporting the poor in your community before those in a distant one. How much more understandable is it that we would distrust those from a culture that despises us? Those Jews who lived in Hebron in the 1920s often worked with and had friendships with local Arabs. Yet among those who joined the murderous riots against the town's Jews were those same Arab "friends".
20. #15 jake
solomon ,   bklyn   (05.03.12)
Some of those instigators are Hamas, Hezbollah, the PLO, Iran, etc. And some are arabs and some are Jews. The problem is insidious. Interesting, that you state “we” must band together and then include the US as a foreign instigator, while you yourself live in the US (and not in Israel). Although I have lived in Israel and post here often, I try not to cross the line and speak as if I still live there. I suggest you do the same.
21. Thank you
Abed ,   Nazareth   (05.03.12)
You must realize that not all of us are animals. Not all of us hate you. But you can't fool yourself into political correctness in which Arab nationalism or Islamism are no longer threats.
22. What is sad is that you can't trust them
Ilan   (05.03.12)
Around the first intifada I stopped my car and helped escort an Arab child back to his home. He was approximately three years old an had wandered onto the road. A couple of days latter two Israelis were shot less than a kilometer from there at a garage. Maybe most Arabs are 100% but it is too big a risk
23. Arabs vs. Jews
Dan ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (05.03.12)
There are decent Arabs and decent Jews and there are bad ones on both sides. But bad Arabs are more likely to commit violent acts against Jews and in much greater proportion than bad Jews violence against Arabs. The vast amount of terror acts comes from the Arab-Moslem world against Jews and not visa-versa. It's simple common sense that the trouble is that we don't know who the decent ones are and who are the terrorist Jew killers. Wake up people and get your heads out of your backsides. This is our reality.
24. # 12 Thank you Carl
Dalia Pergovitz ,   Kingston-Ny   (05.03.12)
But that is my point. One State, with Jews and Arabs living in harmony and solidarity, from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. No more Gaza, no more West Bank. Let's preserve the name of israel and let everybody goes to our Judea and Samaria. And let's be equal in civil and political rights as a big family. The land is big enough for two peoples.
25. I think it is like in America...
Dalia Pergovitz ,   Kingston-Ny   (05.03.12)
I see Jews settling in Samaria. I see young Palestinians partying in Tel Aviv bars. I see strong religious communities in Jerusalem and Muslim praying freely at Al-Aksa. A sole country, with harmony. No more wars, no more hate. No more resentment. The State of israel for Arabs and Jews NOW!
26. The post at No. 9 is not mine
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (05.03.12)
27. #24, Sounds good, but not possible.
Michael ,   California, USA   (05.03.12)
It will not be called Israel because Israelis will be a minority. If the minority will rule, it could be called South Africa. If the majority rules, it will be called Palestine. If you want Israel to exist, you cannot have one state from Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea. After nearly a century of conflict, the people need to be separated by a secure border and breed new leaders in a state of peace. Beyond that, with those leaders after many years, a regional "common Middle East" could be born, like Western Europe.
28. people hide behind smiles
k ,   US   (05.03.12)
beware
29. be hopeful, friendly, if possible, but be prudent, cautious
rick ,   walnut creek   (05.03.12)
one wants to appreciate the good in people and to encourage friendship and peace. but, the consequences for an error are great. and, there are many stories of Arabs who were "friends" or who received some benefit, e.g. free medical treatment, and attacked their Jewish friends or benefactors. AND, THERE ARE THE PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS of the p.a. or gaza showing support for terrorism. and, there are the celebrations following terrorist attacks. and, there the honors given to the terrorists. DON'T BE STUPID. BE CAREFUL.
30. What did you think ?
Yossef   (05.03.12)
that arabs come from Mars? We are cousins, it's written, just read it.
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