We don't all need to know arabic for the sake of peacemaking sounds like some loony Meretz idea. We do need to know arabic because all our enemies speak arabic and its good to know what your enemy says behind your back. Arabic is one of the big languages used in the world so if Israelis have a knowledge of it then it good for business. Bothe english & arabic should be compulsory subjects on the school curriculum.

The author is totally correct, as a matter of fact, I've read that the Arabic is the second most spoken language in Israel. Therefore, as a Sephardic Jew, who speaks Arabic, I have been devastated by the problem exposed in this great article.

This decision, if implemented, is proof of the evil that stupid Jews can do. The exact opposite should be happening and we should be teaching all Jewish kids how to speak, read and write Arabic. I'm sick and tired of the small minority of fascist religious Jews who impose their brand of stupidity on us. This kind of decision - as the well-respected author states - is bad for the country and bad for the Jews.

Let's get one thing straight Jews spoke Arabic for years before Mohammed and Islam was ever thought of. Just as Jews lived in these 'Arab' lands long before Moslems ever existed. I speak read and write Arabic and it is of immense use for my work, travel business and most of all to understand our neighbours who many of the talkbackers will be surprised to know do not all want to kill us all the time!

Yes, I see where the problem might have started...

"Fascist religious Jews"? Worn out epithets like that do nothing do strengthen your point.

israel for a variety of reasons needs arabs studies as a vehicle in understanding and communicating with its arab neighbours, good or bad. This is logical! Uit is necessary for defense. Youknow the terrrorists who were releasted, whose names were announced. Israelis should deal with them.

First. let me say that it is a worthy ideal to be a polyglot for its own sake. Second, let me say that as a Canadian, I studied French in high school for five years. At the end of that period, I could only speak a halting French to a French-speaker. I could not think in French and I had to translate everything in my mind first before uttering my sentence. Understanding a French speaker was even harder since I could not translate in my mind at the speed of the speaker. I certainly could never have gone into an intelligence job. BTW, I was an 'A' student. So, while I think my learning of French was admirable for its own sake, Spanish and today Chinese would probably be better choices. Knowledge of French is unnecessary in Canada, which is officially bilingual, unless you are going to live in Quebec or you want a job with the federal government. And then they will pay you to take French lessons. Let's face it, I am not trying to be arrogant, but the most important language is English; it is the lingua franca of the world. What language do you think Barak, Olmert, Netanyahu and Israeli ministers speak when they visited Mubarak in Egypt or Abdullah in Jordan? Arabic or English.

people talk is very different, many arabs in Israel chose not to use arabic as a writen word since it has huge gap. they prefer to talk in arabic that involved alot of hebrew words and that is by choice.

Bad move. How are Israeli's supposed to communicate ( and understand) their neighbors? It's one of the poorest moves. Languages build a bridge to understanding other cultures. As was said in the Godfather by Marlon Brando:" Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer".

Actually one has to learn two languages: literature Arabic for reading, writing and secondly the local spoken Arabic. Literature Arabic (MSA) is not the mother tongue of any Arab, so for conversations one must learn spoken Levantine Arabic. A pity that Israel failed to teach Arabic as English. Btw, The PA also is not teaching Hebrew in its schools anymore.

if you live here you will know that the last cause to learn hebrew is to promot peace>> the first is to work to understand the other not as a friend but as -the other who lived around in your country

Kids in Israel are good at languages, they hear many languages and pick them up with incredible speed. My 3 y.o. daughter speaks 3 languages. I myself would love to learn Arabic but on a purely National level we need to know Arabic. Not knowing Arabic in the middle-east is like not knowing English in England. Yes you can get by but you won't understand what's going on around you. And how are you going to fit in if you don't understand what's happening??

Insane and infantil, not enough 65 years included year of first settler Mr Dayan romanitism, Orientalism Lenantinism study no compatable with Jewish spirit, drop it. If you look for spiritualim nothing as Jewish study offer more, period.

They do. Duh!!