2011 Israeli Democracy Index indicates racism in society

[Scurrilous]

Israel Democracy Institute survey shows that a third of the Jewish population doesn't regard Arab citizens as "Israelis."

<snip>

"Disturbing signs of racism have been detected in a poll conducted in March, 2011 on behalf of the Israel Democracy Institute by the Dahaf Institute, headed by legendary Israeli pollster Dr. Mina Zemach.

In a nationwide representative sample of 1,200 adult Israeli citizens aged 18 and upwards, responses to questions relating to the Arab population indicated that approximately a third of the Jewish population does not regard Arab citizens as “Israelis.”

On the other hand, 72 percent of citizens who are Arab do regard themselves as Israelis, Tamar Hermann, who headed the team that devised the questions, told The Jerusalem Post.

The complete Israeli Democracy Index for 2011 was presented to President Shimon Peres on Sunday by IDI President Dr. Arye Carmon, who was presenting the seventh such annual index at the President’s Residence, and who noted that not only was the poll very comprehensive in nature, but in the interests of accuracy, questions in Russian and Arabic had been put to respondents who were more comfortable in those languages.

Carmon confessed to being concerned about the Jewish attitude to Arab citizens, stating that some of the views expressed regarding Arabs ran counter to civil rights."

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=239412

[aranthus]

1. Disturbing and encouraging.

The high percentage of Jews who think that Arabs aren't Israelis is not good. However, the higher percentage of Arabs who see themselves as Israelis is a good thinkg. I would not have thought the Arab number would have been as high given that they must be aware of the feelings of some of the majority around them. I don't know the percentages, but Arabs in France face a similar issue. I suspect that many in other parts of Europe have the same problem.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Pretty good assessment, imo n/t

[shaayecanaan]

2. Good little paragraph down the line...

"Peres endorsed the position of the Quartet with regard to direct negotiations and reiterated his oft-expressed contention that negotiations must be without any outside intervention because other countries have self interests that get in the way of issues that pertain strictly to the Israelis and the Palestinians."

[azurnoir]

4. ah in other words

"just leave us alone with them, we'll take care of it"

[bemildred]

5. I do sense a change in the force.

I watched Bibi on US TV a day or so back with some helmet hair suit-droid going on about how much he loves and respects his Palestinian bretheren.

[azurnoir]

6. geez I missed that one, wish I had seen it

did he look pained?

[bemildred]

7. Hard to tell what sort of grimace it was.

He hit several of the shows that I noticed. He was articulate, but I expect he practiced a good deal, and the interviewer was polite, as an interviewer should be.

But when he talked about "Palestinian Bretheren" instead of "Harsh Measures", I noticed that.

[azurnoir]

8. Quite disturbing especially in light of Israel's insistence

on Palestinians recognizing Israel as the Jewish State