Read this account in today's Haaretz of a recent poll in Israel: A poll conducted by the Maagar Mochot research institution and presented recently at a Tel Aviv University conference shows that 56 percent of Israeli high school students believe that the country's Arab citizens should be prohibited from being elected to the Knesset. That figure rises to 82 percent among religious youths. Around half the respondents say Israeli Arabs should not receive the same rights as Israeli Jews. In the words of Prof. Daniel Bar-Tal of the Tel Aviv University School of Education: "The worldview of religious youth melds fundamentalism, nationalism and racism." The article's author, Zvi Bar'el, concludes his piece by noting that, "…. while a culture of peace is being demanded of the Palestinians, the Israeli side is witnessing an unimpeded spread of a culture of racism." I would say this is a result of a powerful politico-religious cool-aid being fed to these youths. It does make one grateful for the U.S. worship of the separation of church and state. It's far from perfect, but at least it keeps religious extremists mostly on the sidelines. http://trueslant.
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