Israeli Arabs: Fathers and Sons (and Daughters)

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byoung, educated, modern Arab. The Golem of Israel, created by bJews who believed that by caring for his body and expanding his bmind, they would lead the Arab to accept being a permanent bminority in a Jewish state.

bIf examples of Israeli blindness were not so prevalent, no bone would believe them. But consider:

bIn January 1979 Knesset Education Committee chairman bOra Namir paid a well-publicized visit to the schools of Umm al- bFahm, one of the centers of Israeli Arab hate. Passing a wall on bwhich had been painted “Long live Fatah,” she told the Arabs bthat “we are committed to doing everything we can to make bArab schools equal to Jewish schools,” despite a government bdecision to freeze and cut spending levels for Jews.

bAnd then Mrs. Namir, a Knesset member and a leader in bIsrael, said: “The fact that you do not have enough latrines in bthe schools is, for me, even more tragic than not enough class- brooms. You will have the budget. But you will have to promise bme that the latrines will be first.”

bNot by latrines does an Arab live, and he will never trade bhis national passions for them. The latrines we give him he will btake. But the education he receives from Israel he will use to bbring closer that day when Jews will be a minority and he can bgenerously offer them the latrines.