Israel's Racism and Xenophobia

Dear friends,

If there is any doubt left in people's minds about Israel's racist policies, read the following articles published in the last few days.

As Israel prepares for "peace" with its "Arab neighbors," it is hardening its policies towards Israeli Arabs, an unwelcome 1/5 of the population.

Any talk of Israel being a democratic, pluralistic state is absolute nonsense.  It is extremely sad that queer people in the US have fallen victim to the propaganda perpetuated by Israeli lobbying groups - this "Jewish" state is founded on the principals of xenophobia, racism and discrimination.

The proof is in the pudding, as they say.

For Israel's Arab Citizens, Isolation and Exclusion
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/19/AR2007121902681.html

Only 4% of Development Budget Allocated for Arab Sector
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3483728,00.html

Poverty Among Arab Population Growing
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3483377,00.html

Arabs are to Blame (for Israeli Policies) - by a former education minister
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3481095,00.html

Racism in Israel on the Rise
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/5-0&fp=476a0953bfcc2f13&ei=ALlqR5eXJ4_OywS55-XYCg&url=http%3A//www.ynetnews.com/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3480345%2C00.html&cid=0

Noted Arab Citizens Call on Israel to Lose its Jewish Identity
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/08/africa/web.0208israel.php

3 things that we can ALL do if we are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people and American government support of Israel:

Oppose US Aid to Israel
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/uscampaign/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=12265

Sign the Call to Action to End Israeli Occupation
http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=45

Speak Out About Israel's Abuse and Oppression
to friends, family, community members.

This is not about anti-Jewish sentiment or even anti-semitism.  This is about justice and equality and standing up to the hypocritical claims made by the US and Israel declaring Israel to be the "only democratic" country in the Middle East.

This is also not about denying human rights violations against marginalized communities in the Arab and Muslim world.  Human rights do not discriminate based on color, creed or race.  As we stand up and speak out against human rights abuses within the Arab and Muslim world, we must equally be as forceful in calling for the US support and complicity in the oppression of Israeli Arabs and the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories.

Thank you.

Faisal Alam






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Faisal Alam
alam.faisal@gmail.com

"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted."
  — Martin Luther King, Jr.