Ms Lucy your aticle is beyond disgusting. You make generalizations. In any other Arab country you would not be able to write and publish such article. It is only in israel that you can do such. Instead of working to see how stupid incidents like these will not happen you chose to write a racist, untrue article. Those that are rasist are all the Arab countries and if you think that Israel is so bad you have many Arab countries to chose for a move.

Always was among the Jews, against all minority non Jews groups. And now to add to that, hate between the obserevents and the none. I am an lsraeli born yamenite who chose to leave because of the racisem,glad l did,and proud to see others who left and made the most of their lives instead of being crashed in lsralilsrael

Israel does have plenty of racism largely because its such a small country and so many ethnic groups and different cultures. So many cultures such a small country and racist attitudes to some groups is natural. With the arabs there is the added problem that so many of them are loyal primarily to the ones who get their kicks out of killing Israel's and when you have arab MKS like Tibi & Zouabi it highlights this attitude even further. This incident at Superland has been blown out of all proportion obviously because the arab teacher didn't check in advance it was ok to bring his group on that day. The idea this is a race issue is just crazy because Superland are a business not a political institution so they don't care who comes as long as they get paid. If the arab. Both Jews & arabs have known for a long time is there are separate days for different groups and traditionally everybody likes it that way trouble is the Jewish school had pre booked for that day and the arab came along obviously without booking in advance and expected to be given priority. Nor racism just an arab who was made a fool of in front of his students when he had to accept they could not go on that day.

#45. There are Arabs who want to live in peace in Israel as a minority. However, their numbers are not large. Such Arabs should be welcome as Israeli citizens. However, those who aim to subvert and take over the sole tiny Homeland of Jews, must go. Unfortunately, there are many more of these Arabs than the former type. Moreover, Arab leaders constantly shout out their desire to take over or destroy Israel. There is seldom even the slightest attempt to hide it. Unfortunate facts are still facts and they must be dealt with.

The story as I read it, in two different places, said that Superland had been asked by both Jewish and Arab groups that when there are "groups days" that they be separate. Because neither Jewish teachers nor Arab teachers want to deal with their kids acting badly. Which is very sensible on everybody's part, if you ask me. Now, the girl who answered the phone should be punished, because she very clearly violated the rules of civil society (telling the particular Arab caller a lie, that there was no room for them on a particular day). But other than that, the policy at Superland was apparently requested by both sides. For entirely sensible reasons. And for what it's worth, whenever I've been to Superland, there have ALWAYS been Jews and Arabs of all kinds, all waiting on those overcrowded lines all squished in together. I've never seen any racism there at all.

Every time someone like you writes a piece like this and gets it published in an Israeli publication, you are proving the nonsense of your argument!

What is the point of publishing this piece of amateurish one-sided trash? Had she pointed out incidents of 'racism' and indicated some of the reasons Jews might be suspect of their Arab fellow citizens the article might have made sense. Had she pointed out all the ways in which Israel is not a racist society it might have made sense. Had she had not that same tone in which Arabs endlessly express hatred of Israel it might have made some sense to publish it. PS Does YNet intend to join the BSD movement?

And as you can see from the many right wing advocates here, many believe racism is perfectly acceptable if the other side is racist. With the large number of ethnic and religious groups in Israel racism is a huge danger and difficult to stop once ingrained. Lucy, as an Arab growing up in a Jewish town(Dimona) knows more about racism than any of us. There are many wonderful people in Israel such as Meir Cohen (former Dimona mayor) and Lucy who fight the racist tide but sometimes we feel we are losing the battle.

let him cast the first stone. What country or people in this world are not racist? Can you point one out for me? While you are still busy checking it out (you won't find one). Israelis as a whole are a pretty tolerant society. I know that you expect Israelis to be the chosen people and excel in everything, but as you pointed out in the last sentence of your article, nobody is perfect.

Of course there are racial problems in Israel but countries where there was hardly any are now paying the price. Sweden and Lebanon for example. When was the last time you heard Arabs or Druze condemning Muslim terror attacks? And 'yes' of course one or two out of one billion do open their mouths, but at great risk. When Arabs and Druze in Israel start speaking well of Jews and the democracy then Jews will be surely less racist.

Did someone forget that the Jews are at war with the Arabs? Security concerns warrrant such separation.

and an ugly thought, so I shall not use it. Discrimination and separation are more appropriate when describing Judaism. They are inherent to our religion and people by virtue of the fact that we designate ourselves as "chosen" and the way we use the word "goy", which literally means nation, but has become, through use, to mean "others", in the most derogatory sense possible. These two words and thoughts have given license to us to regard ourselves as not only different from others, but "above" others. That is in respect of Jews v. the "other nations". Internally we are so divided, and each division holds and regards the others with derision and contempt, that there is, and never will be, reconciliation and uniformity. People can attack me for this and argue till their face turns blue, these are undeniable and indisputable facts.

United States for their religious activities.....it seems no one has any opinion about racism. Maybe a non believer wanted to get on a ride.....a Christian... or Jew...God forbid. None of the Muslims scream racism...Apartheid...or any other slander... as they commit the same offenses in the United States... the same offenses they accuse the Jews of committing in Israel. It's funny how the rules change when they move into a non Jewish area. They can commit exactly the same offense...and think nothing of it or the other children that it might affect. Children that could have used the same park without being labeled with the stigma of being a Non-Muslim. As they don't practice what they preach as a whole...Try getting into Mecca without a Muslim Passport. They don't even allow Christian Day...Jewish Day...Non Believer Day...or any other Day. The biggest form of Apartheid the rest of us non muslims could be labeled with...is happily foisted upon our shoulders by the proud group that runs Mecca in Saudi Arabia. NO ADMITTANCE!...WRONG RELIGIOUS VALUES! But that's not Apartheid?

Please answer my question to the author at #71, since she won't answer me. Finally, have the nations of the world not used derogatory words against Jews? Why may they and we may not?

I agree with much of what you say. The point about the term 'racism' is that like many such terms its meaning has changed over time to denote exactly the attitudes and behaviour to which you refer. As to your broader point, whether there will ever be reconciliation between or within divided populations is questyionable. Uniformity seems neither realistic nor desirable. Ultimately, it is whether neighbours can more or less live side by side in an equitable relationship despite animosities. That may be more realistic if there is an increasing emphasis on satisfying mutual self-interests.

Sociology or history? Let us have separate honest inventories on Arab, Druze, Beduin, Jewish secular, Jewish haredi sectors. Can we face our inept history of political and social errors separately? Can we forgive our listening to foreign allies? Somewhere there is a path to healing.

"Liberal values" are behind much of Israel's suffering. "Liberal values" cause Israel to pretend Israeli Arabs are loyal citizens of Israel; when their leaders shout out the falsehood of this lie every day. You can live by "liberal values", but sane Jews will choose survival.

The answer to your question is very simple, it is no, I cannot, nor can anyone else. When I was very young my Father would say to me, if you see someone jumping off a bridge it does not mean that you have to do the same thing. If we are indeed "chosen" and our mission in life is to be "a light unto the Nations", then let us first of all practice what we preach. Nations should not be judged as "superior" and "inferior". I do of course concede that the achievements of some are far superior to those of others, that the input to Humanity of some Nations and individuals is totally disproportionate to that of others, but this does not make the individual Human person a lesser being and he does not deserve because of this to be mistreated with derision. If his acts warrant derision then so be it, but just because he is a "goy" he must not be derided. I asked a Chabad Rabbi once if the law of "Pikuach Nephesh" applies to saving a Jewish life or also that of a "goy". His answer was very definitive and absolute, only that of a Jew. That Sir, is derision and contempt at its best.

Part of the problem is the hyper-defensiveness by Israelis to any criticism of their nation ( I particularly like those who scream that Israel isn't as bad as the worse of the worse nations around it. Real convincing argument there.) What #75 is describing are ingrained beliefs that aren't going to change anytime soon. It took huge movements (and many years) in other nations to overcome institutional and cultural bigotry. The problem with Israel is the left has become marginalised (partly due to the fact that Israel is constantly being attacked.) The result being that the very thing Israel needs the most (to bring its culture up to Western standards) it can't get. It's possible outside pressure on Israel can force it to change, but except for the Americans, who has any influence over Israelis? It's a bad situation that's likely to get worse. Why do I think this? Just read all the talkbacks which either deny the bigotry, or even worse, defend it.

Yes, the word racist is bandied about today by people whose knowledge and intentions are both questionable. Hitler was racist as he had a policy of exterminating another race. South Africa was racist in that it had a policy of downgrading a section of their society and preventing that section from bettering itself both financially and educationally. From the end of the civil war in America right up till MLK and Montgomery Alabama circa 1958/60, that is 90 years, America was racist, especially the Southern States. This was, by that time, mentality and not policy. Racism in Israel is mentality and not policy. Israel does not wish to exterminate nor does she prevent any citizen from achieving education and financial stability, not because of religion or ethnicity. There are no laws in Israel which hold any citizen to be inferior or discriminated against and if there would be such laws then Israel would find itself poorer by far. A person has full entitlement to wish not to associate with a different ethnic group simply because he does not like their behaviour and culture, this does not mean he is racist. Israel today is likened to the situation in America as I decribed before, there are many Kefauvers and Wallaces in Israel, there are many run of the mill individuals who do not suffer the "others" gladly. This is mentality and in time it will disappear. As I said it took 90 years in America, let's hope it will be less with us.

'You can live by "liberal values", but sane Jews will choose survival.' Well done, Chaim. According to my dictionary 'liberal' is defined as: favouring progress, reform and individual freedom. We don't want that do we?

if you do not wish to publish my response have at least the courtesy to give me an explanation why not? YOU HAVE MY EMAIL, best regards ! shalom

#85. When it comes to politics, there is a big difference between dictionary definitions and reality. In the real world, liberals lead the charge for big government and against personal freedom.

Look what 58 wrote. Too many people denying the undeniable and too many people defending the indefensible, just the facts.

It's so easy to speak(attack) us, living so far away. Which of you has little ones that they would like to take to any amusement park and have to worry that some "racist", arabs in this case, will be verbally or even physically attacking them? So, we should lay down and let them kill us? Where do you get your asinine "progressive" ideas and logic? As far as you racists go, I really don't give a flying frick what you say, we will do what is necessary to protect our own. And Bertie in Londonstan, good luck to you in about 10 years time. Let's see if you aren't a muslim by then, if you aren't yet.

I don't which 'real world' you live in, Chaim. It's not mine. You obviously use the word 'liberal' pejoratively to deride views with which you do not agree e.g. 'big government' (when government does something you don't like). Finally, curtailing personal freedom, by definition, cannot be a liberal value. I suspect, Chaim, that you are 'half-liberal' i.e. you would like your freedom protected (as well for those like you) but as for the freedom of others....that's another matter.