Business owners in north can't get special loans because they aren't Jews

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"A business development center that works under the auspices of the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry has offered special loans for small businesses in the north, but it is making the special offer only to those businesses that are owned by Jews and former soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces.

The ministry said that the criteria for eligibility was determined by the owners of a private foundation that is funding the project.

At the end of the Lebanon war, the MATI organization announced it was offering special loans to residents of northern towns, which had suffered great damage when Hezbollah rockets hit homes and businesses.

A few Israeli Arab business owners who checked the loans for businesses in the Galilee happened upon a great deal: MATI was offering a NIS 45,000 loan, which will be paid back with no interest over a reasonable amount of time.

But the businessmen checked the criteria for eligibility for the loan and saw that it was intended only for Jews and ex-IDF troops."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/756784.html

[breakaleg]

1. In any other country, this would be an outrage. In Israel it's par for

the course.

Why is it that a culture that has been so discriminated against, can now justify discrimination of others? It just seems so wrong, I don't know how they can rationalize it.

[pelsar]

2. the judicial system correcting a wrong: Israeli democracy in action

The head of the center has said the criteria are discriminatory and are in violation of laws against discrimination in public services and High Court rulings that state a body being funded by the government must not discriminate on the basis of nationality, religion, race or sex

He says, if MATI does not change the criteria for the loan, the center will file civil law suits....

_______

Now lets look at america:the legacy of racial discrimination in the states is so far beyond, i dont believe the american supreme court has even addressed the many issues involved:

As we looked into the faces of the people who suffered most from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina, it quickly became clear most of those on rooftops, the porches and in the shelters were black.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/weather/july-dec05/race_9-5.html

____

so what see in israel is the judicial system correcting a wrong, something those in america might want to pay attention to

[newyorican]

3. "Now lets look at america"

No...let's look at the actual topic. The "Judicial System" isn't fixing anything in Israel...yet, if ever. If any "fixing" occurs, the system will be dragged, kicking and screaming to it by a lawsuit. You may be entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts.

The song is familiar, it was sung over those racist marriage laws, that were going to be "fixed" by the judiciary. When it became apparent the racist laws would stand, the tune changed to one of rationalization. It is a pathetic dirge on a loop.

As for the Katrina deflection (clumsily done), that topic has been, and still is, a lively one in the LBN and GD forums upstairs. Feel free to comment on that topic in threads that are actually discussing it.

[pelsar]

4. the judicial system works....

as you have admitted:
If any "fixing" occurs, the system will be dragged, kicking and screaming to it by a lawsuit.

thats how democracies work, sometimes it goes easy, sometimes it doesnt. (Brown v. Board of Education would be an example of how it works sometimes)

but comparison is crucial..as humans are involved, so one does want to compare and find the limitations of other countries. There are those racists who somehow believe that israelis arent human and must be beyond the normal fears and predjudices that all humans have...but they're just bigots. (usually found on the left side of the line)

Infact stability of a country is based on its ability to change within the rules without physically harming those who disagree and since this is the I/P forum perhaps we should discuss how the palestenians deal with internal discrimination....an important part of the conflict:

we can do a table and compare.....what do you say?...see which society is more civils right oriented?....

like i said: its democracy in action, few countries can boast a working stable system.

[breakaleg]

8. that's just more rationalization of wrongs committed by Israel.

You don't really believe that do you?

Since when is discrimination acceptable? To support your claim you go and drag in other instances in which those countries have since realized they were also wrong.

nice try.

[pelsar]

10. your comment.....

In any other country, this would be an outrage.

Seems to me your comparing all countries and their justice systems to israel. I think we should do just that, and then perhaps you can explain in more detail how in ANY other county this would be an outrage.

i happen not to believe that discrimination is acceptable, i also understand that its very much a part of us humans, and this includes israelis. I also understand that its the states job to attempt to correct the wrongs that its citizens do....and that is precisly what the article is all about: democracy in action.

seems to me, you should at least stand behind your statement (you have many others like this as well) and give us some additional details.....

[izzie]

5. Guess people just never learn from history

and that does not shock me. It does not mean I think it is right I am just jaded by life I guess.

[cali]

6. Hyperbole: It's what's for breakfast.

"In any other country, this would be an outrage". LOL! I find the information in the OP, both offensive and discouraging, but to put forth as fact that such actions is any other country would be an outrage, is just absurd.

[Englander]

7. Either way, it's par for the course in Israel.

The Apartheid-lite aspect, that is.

[furman]

9. A private foundation is funding the project

"The ministry said that the criteria for eligibility was determined by the
owners of a private foundation that is funding the project."

Before making apartheid and discrimination comments,
I think we should hold our fire until learning more about MATI and this loan program.


From MATI's Jerusalem branch, I learned that funding comes from both
private and public sources.

http://www.mati.org.il/Index.asp?ArticleID=106&CategoryID=83&Page=1

Public Funds and Organizations

MATI offers its services at a discount, thanks
to the assistance of the following public
funds and organizations:

■ Israel Small and Medium Enterprise Authority
■ Ministry of Industry and Trade and Labour.
■ Ministry of Immigrant Absorption
■ The Jewish Agency - Israel Division
■ UJA - Federation of New York
■ The Jerusalem Foundation
■ Municipality of Jerusalem
■ Jerusalem Development Authority
■ JDC Israel