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Comment by toyg

2 years ago

No; a chance to be full citizens in the same state, removing discrimination of "Arabs" or "Jewish", refounding the country on the basis of a modern state: separation of church and state, freedom of religion, equality for everyone before the law. Open a process to discuss reconciliation and reparations for expropriation of land (which Israel can easily afford). Give Palestinians the chance to regain their dignity and hope, in exchange for long-term peace and security.

Or do something else, I don't care; at this point one has to try anything but this slow-motion ethnic cleansing and "two states" bantustans.

> slow-motion ethnic cleansing

There are Arabs who are full citizens of Israel, who have elected representatives in the Israeli parliament. There are also Arab judges in the Israeli supreme court. Oh, and the population of the muslim Arab citizens of Israel is much greater now than when Israel was formed. So, no ethnic cleansing there.

The Arab population in the Palestinian areas has also multiplied. So, no ethnic cleansing there either.

Israel is good at many things but it seems to be really bad at ethnic cleansing.

  • > There are Arabs who are full citizens of Israel

    But they don't live in the occupied territories, duh. They are also second-class citizens de-facto, with a constant need to go through the courts to do everything they are technically entitled to but denied in practice. They are a fifth of the population but don't express anything near a fifth of the ruling classes - to pick the example you chose, 1 out of 15 supreme court judges is Arab.

    It's very much like the condition of black people in the "separated but equal" era in the US, when theoretical legal equality was simply denied in the field.

    > the population of the muslim Arab citizens of Israel is much greater now than when Israel was formed.

    And this is the source of much public anguish in Israeli public discourse.

    > The Arab population in the Palestinian areas has also multiplied.

    But their land keeps shrinking. The land claimed by settlements is cleansed indeed.

    > it seems to be really bad at ethnic cleansing.

    Attempted murder is still a crime.