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Arab and Jewish Israelis in the Old City (file)
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| By israelinsider staff March 21, 2007 |
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Israel's Declaration of Independence promises, "complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants, irrespective of religion, race or sex."
According to a recent poll, however, the majority of Israelis see racism in the Jewish State as worse than a decade ago.
The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) recently conducted a poll in honor of Anti-Racism Day, in which 502 adult Jewish Israelis gave their opinions on racism and their Arab neighbors, Ynetnews reported Wednesday.
According to the poll, in fact, thirty-nine percent would prefer not having Arab neighbors, though a majority wouldn't object to hiring Arabs. Twenty-eight percent flat out objected to hiring Arab employees and 38 percent wouldn't work for an Arab employer.
In terms of the government, the vast majority of respondents (83%) would not accept an Arab president, only 13 percent considering the possibility. Twenty-one percent accepted having an Arab minister in the Knesset, like first-ever Arab minister Raleb Majadele, whereas 31 percent objected.
When asked the question, "Is the State of Israel more racist now that it was one decade ago?" a significant 37 percent of Israelis asked said yes.
Anat Hoffman, IRAC Executive Director expressed her disappointment of growing racism Tuesday, saying, " displays of racism, and especially those done in the name of Judaism, disgrace the Jewish people."
Despite the ever-raging Israel-Palestinian conflict, the majority of poll respondents didn't identify Arab Israelis as the most discriminated minority in Israel, placing them second after Ethiopian immigrants. Russian immigrants came in third.
A vast majority of the respondents (72%) identified the education system as a cause of the growing racism, claiming schools insufficiently acted to ameliorate the situation and stop prejudice.
Others placed the responsibility on the religious organizations, 36 percent blaming religious leaders for increasing racism, whereas 10 percent disagreed, saying that rabbis actually helped.
According to Israel's government website, 76.2 percent of Israel's population are Jews, whereas 19.5 are Arab, mostly Muslim. |
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