46% of Israeli teens: Revoke Arabs' rights

[Donald Ian Rankin]

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4050228,00.html

46% of Israeli teens: Revoke Arabs' rights

Friedrich Ebert Foundation's Youth Study reveals Israel's teens think greatest threat to state is Jewish-Arab conflict, believe less in democratic values. As for who they trust most - IDF gets 93%

....

In total, 1,600 teens from two age groups – 15-18 and 21-24 were interviewed.

...

According to the data, the importance of democracy as a national goal among Israeli teens has dropped from second place in 1998 (26%) to third place in 2010 with just 14.3%. Meanwhile, the importance of "Jewishness" as a national goal has climbed from third place (18.1% in 1998) to first place in 2010 with 26%.

...

Asked how they feel when they think of Arabs, 25% responded with "hate" and 12% responded with "fear".

...

Analysis also revealed that the increase in feelings of fear and aversion towards Arabs manifests in political identity. Thus, 13 years ago only 48% of those interviewed defined themselves as right-wing whereas in 2010 the result was 62%.

While in 1998, 32% of the teens defined themselves as left-wing, in 2010 only 12% considered themselves as such.



(I'm only allowed four paragraphs, so I've picked four that have actual numbers in them; there's more background and context at the link)

[Donald Ian Rankin]

1. The only hope for peace is external pressure on Israel.

The idea that Israel will make peace because it chooses to is blindingly naive - the vast majority of Israelis prefer the status quo. The peace movement and the left in Israel are not just tiny, they're going to get even smaller.

The only hope for ending the occupation is external pressure on Israel. Even that's unlikely, because it would require US cooperation, but it's the only small chance for peace there is.

[davidinalameda]

2. wonder how Arab youth feel about Israel

bet they're big fans

wonder if that children's show is still be shown on Palestinian TV

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow%27s_Pioneers

[LeftishBrit]

3. Neither form of bigotry justifies the other

Besides, the polls in the article don't just reveal negative feelings toward Arabs. They reflect a move away from fundamental democratic principles: in the treatment of Arabs, and probably in everything else.

'According to the data, the importance of democracy as a national goal among Israeli teens has dropped from second place in 1998 (26%) to third place in 2010 with just 14.3%. Meanwhile, the importance of "Jewishness" as a national goal has climbed from third place (18.1% in 1998) to first place in 2010 with 26%.

About 60% of Jewish youths prefer "strong leadership" to rule of law and the study reveals that 46% of those asked tended to negate the basic political rights like the right to be elected from Israel's Arab citizens.'


A country which does not see democracy as a key value; is prepared to deny basic democratic rights to a national minority (though British attitudes are just as bad when it comes to our 'immigrant' minority); and which values 'strong' leadership above the rule of law is a country in danger from within. Yes, none of the Arab states in the ME comes even close to being a democracy at present (we shall see if this changes), but that isn't the point here: the comparison is not between Israel and the Arab states, but between Israel now and in 1998. And there seems to be a considerable deterioration. I don't know how much of this is due to the long-term effects of the conflict, and how much is due to ultra-nationalist and/or religious groups' influence on some youngsters. In polls which look at different groups separately, ultra-Orthodox youngsters tend to be much more hard-line and undemocratic in their attitudes than secular Jews.

[Douglas Carpenter]

11. 2007 Israeli poll: Similar stereotypes found among Arab students toward Jews, but a lower percent

This of course in comparison between young high school student Jewish citizens of Israel and young high school student Arab citizens of Israel:

The data was presented at a bi-lingual conference held in Haifa. The study, titled "Perception of 'the Other' amongst Jewish and Arab Youth in Israel" included 1,600 students studying in 22 high schools around the country. "We have found a serious expression of stereotypical thinking on the Jewish students' part regarding the Arab youth," said Dr. Kupermintz, who pointed out that 69 percent of the Jewish students think that Arabs are not smart.

Recent poll reveals 75 percent of Jewish students believe Arabs uneducated, uncivilized, unclean. Similar stereotypes found amongst Arab students toward Jews, but in lower percentages.

According to the survey, the Arab youth views the Jewish society with fewer reservations: 27 percent of the Arab students believe Jews are uneducated, while 40 percent say they are uncivilized, and 47 percent believe they are not smart.

snip:

75 percent of Arab students showed willingness to meet with Jewish students as opposed to less than 50 percent willingness amongst Jewish students.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3350467,00.html

[TomClash]

4. Not surprising

Youth globally are increasingly fed right wing ideology with little counterweight.

[damntexdem]

5. The way it's going, Israel has no future.

Or rather, has only a future like the past and present of Ghadafi's Libya.

[whosinpower]

6. Dark clouds gathering

the biggest threat to the state.....is the lack of support for democratic principles....and that is growing by leaps and bounds amongst the youth interviewed.

Ah....youth....perhaps they do not yet recognize the importance of having a voice in who governs them, and perhaps that is for the simple reason that they take MUCH for granted.

Egypt, Tunesia, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia.....all want a voice....and the youth of Israel HAVE it and do not cherish it.....I could cry.

[oberliner]

7. The title of the article is a lie

For someone concerned about precision of language, it is surprising that you made no mention of that, and even excerpted a sentence from the article that is in itself internally inconsistent.

If you are between 21 and 24, then you are not a teen.

More informative than this poorly crafted (and deceptively excerpted) article would be a link to the actual survey itself.

Interestingly, this article (and post) provides no such link.

[LeftishBrit]

9. To be fair...

it is the forum's rule that titles must be given exactly as in the original articles - even if they are misleading as headlines often are.

[whosinpower]

10. I think this might be the survey results - but it is in hebrew

http://www.macro.org.il/lib/File/YouthStudy/SurveyResults..pdf

[Douglas Carpenter]

13. what do you expect from all those Israel haters at ynet?

:eyes:

[Donald Ian Rankin]

15. If you are between 15 and 18 then you are, though.

It's possible the prevalence of such views among 13,14 and 19 years olds is radically different, I guess.

It's hard to avoid the conclusion that your post is motivated by personal animosity rather than by a desire to add anything to the debate.

I do agree that a link to the actual survey would be interesting, though, but unfortunately as far as I can tell they're only published in Hebrew (at http://www.fes.org.il/src/File/SurveyResults.(1).pdf).

[azurnoir]

8. This is a sad state of affairs

generally we look to the youth as a hope for the future, but this doesn't give much hope

[whosinpower]

12. A bit more at Haaretz

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/poll-young-israelis-moving-much-farther-to-the-right-politically-1.353187

snip - Israel must significantly increase the amount of money it spends on educating its young people about democracy, said Dr. Roby Nathanson, the director general of the Macro Center.

"There is not enough awareness about democratic values among youths," he said. "Democracy is not just voting once every four years. It also includes values such as tolerance and consideration for minority groups, the weaker populations and those who are different ."

[LeftishBrit]

16. Very strongly agree!

Though just teaching kids about democracy won't be enough.

Two more things are necessary:

(1) Adults need to set an example!

(2) Integrated school education:

www.handinhandk12.org

[Donald Ian Rankin]

17. Do you see any chance of either of those in the forseeable future? N.T.

[shaayecanaan]

14. the last sentence is the kicker...

"While in 1998, 32% of the teens defined themselves as left-wing, in 2010 only 12% considered themselves as such."

and this is amongst the youth. I imagine it is even lower amongst the older folks.