RAMALLAH, October 14 (JMCC) - Haaretz's Aluf Benn argues that Israel's antagonistic policies against its Arab minority are instigated not by its right-wing foreign minister, but by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself.
Netanyahu sees Israel as an inseparable part of the West and its culture. He is not curious about the history, culture and language of the Arabs. He has visited an Arab community only once since returning to power (Shfaram, when school started last year ), and does not hold a dialogue with the leaders of the Arab community or with Arab intellectuals. As far as is known, Netanyahu does not hate Arabs and does not express himself toward them in racist or arrogant ways, as did Ariel Sharon. He merely keeps his distance.
Netanyahu revealed his motives and policies at the Herzliya Conference seven years ago, when he was finance minister in Sharon's cabinet. We have a demographic problem, but it is focused not on the Arabs of Palestine but on the Arabs of Israel. He explained: If the Arab residents become wonderfully integrated and their numbers reach 35 percent to 40 percent of the total population, the Jewish state will be canceled out and become a binational state. If their number remains around 20 percent as it is today, or even declines, but relations are harsh and contentious, then, too, the democratic fabric of our argument will be impaired.
Read the story at Haaretz...
