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The Hatikva Conundrum

Reader comment on item: Israeli Arabs in High Places

Submitted by Zivia (Israel), Jun 1, 2007 at 06:45

Raleb Majadele is right, Hatikva - Israel's national anthem - was written only for Jews. I can see how Israeli Arabs would not feel inclined to recite it. It certainly doesn't make them feel included as part of the country. All I ask is that a non-Jew stand (like Mr. Majadele does) out of respect when Hatikva is recited. As an Israeli and a Jew, I would not feel insulted if a non-Jew did not say the words. I do get insulted when non-Jews do not observe the minute of silence the entire Israeli country observes on Holocaust Remembrance Day. This is tantamount to a slap in the face. (According to a poll conducted by the University of Haifa, 28 percent of Israel's Arab citizens believe the Holocaust never happened.)

Hatikva is just one of the many conundrums we live with in Israel. How do you have a Jewish state and make it inclusive for non-Jews? Maybe this is not possible. The fact is, though, that countries all over the world (including Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia where Jews are not even allowed to live or visit except under very special circumstances) experience the same problem when it comes to their treatment of minority populations. It is not unique to Israel. Different rules apply to different populations in most of the world, especially regarding immigration laws.

Jews have lived as minority populations in foreign countries for thousands of years and been subject to many discriminatory laws and actions. We have not tried to change the host country's constitution, official language or religious holidays. We have not blown up cafes and buses because we felt we were treated unfairly. In fact, in the great majority of cases, Jews living in foreign lands have made incredible contributions to their host countries.

There are Israeli Arabs and organizations who would like to ban Hatikva, change our observance of Jewish holidays and the Hebrew language, and a host of other things that make this country Jewish. Arab citizens of Israel deserve equal treatment when it comes to housing, jobs, schooling, health care, etc., but they must not insist on changing the Jewish character of Israel.

There is ONLY one Jewish state in the entire world and it is here to stay. Jews live here because they don't want to live as a minority in another country. If non-Jews in Israel don't like living as a minority in this country, they should consider moving to one of the many Arab and/or Muslim countries that exist in the world. They have many more options than Jews do.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (30) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
arabs ... spread to the whole world [11 words]CanJun 9, 2012 01:24196161
Elected officials representing the state [59 words]steviasMay 15, 2012 18:48195620
1Respect of Country [74 words]Annie GoldMar 22, 2012 04:43194641
1Respect of Country [90 words]Nelson D'SilvaJun 23, 2012 10:22194641
1A delicate matter [66 words]saraMar 18, 2012 19:52194498
6Israelis Arabs and their alleged "Lack of Dignity" [134 words]LudvikusMar 2, 2012 23:04193825
1A Traitor is a Traitor is a Traitor [22 words]Mark RothMar 13, 2008 09:33122561
3It has happened in India before [100 words]SankarJun 7, 2007 11:0396473
17India is not Secular - It has Pseudo Secular and anti Hindu Constitution [135 words]SinghaMar 11, 2008 22:1996473
1It has happened in India before [101 words]Yechiel ShlipshonApr 16, 2012 22:2896473
National Anthem [53 words]RaoApr 21, 2012 11:1296473
1TIME TO REEVALUATE PRIORITIES [37 words]DAVID R. GROESBECKJun 3, 2007 03:2095853
I'M NOT SURPRISED [157 words]PERRY TRATTENJun 2, 2007 17:4495816
I agree. The word "Jew" is a pejorative and only 1 syllable [175 words]James BurkeMar 12, 2008 09:1495816
1Song written only for Jews. [172 words]YnnatchkhaJun 1, 2007 14:5595672
What's in a song? [199 words]Rebecca MouldsMar 11, 2008 14:4895672
To Ms. Moulds !!! [65 words]YnnatchkahMar 11, 2008 22:2195672
1We Get What We Deserve [90 words]Herb AbelowJun 1, 2007 11:5795652
1we sure do. [49 words]surjJun 5, 2007 19:1895652
I AGREE [2 words]Phillip SteinMay 11, 2012 10:1595652
Artificial distinctions amongst continuity [99 words]David W. LincolnJun 1, 2007 09:5895635
does anyone have the English text of the anthem ? [5 words]AndyJun 1, 2007 08:3495629
translation for you [270 words]mikeJun 1, 2007 16:1495629
5The Hatikva Conundrum [432 words]ZiviaJun 1, 2007 06:4595623
face reality [68 words]surjJun 5, 2007 16:5595623
Raleb Majadele-Israel's First Muslim Arab Minister of State 753#comments [88 words]S.C.PandaJun 1, 2007 04:5195617
Shame [31 words]Unni NairJun 1, 2007 01:2895611
Raleb Majadele is just a small fry [99 words]M.D'SouzaMay 31, 2007 19:0495588
Arab Minister vs. Iraeli National Anthem [70 words]Harold MantleMay 31, 2007 18:0495576
SINGING HATIKVA [29 words]MJMay 31, 2007 17:5395571

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