Fifteen Minutes to Middle East Expertise
Later this month, the United Nations Security Council will vote on the Palestinian Authority's petition to have a state declared in the West Bank. The results of that vote are not in question. It is highly unlikely that the resolution will pass. If it does, the United States will exercise our veto. It is not that the United States is opposed to the two state solution. Both the US and Israel favor the two state solution. But the future Palestinian state must come after the Palestinians make peace with Israel. Instead, Mahmoud Abbas has decided to try to have a state established without making peace with Israel. Do not be duped into believing that Israel is the problem. Remember that former Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered Yasser Arafat virtually everything he wanted, including a capital in East Jerusalem. Arafat did not even bother to say no, let alone make a counteroffer. He simply escalated terrorism against Israel.
It is so important to have clarity on the Israel-Palestinian issue that I have invited a virtual Scholar-in-Residence to The Rabbi's Study. Dennis Prager is a writer, thinker, teacher, and broadcaster. He is sometimes described as a "conservative talk show host." Some readers may be leery of "conservative talk show hosts." Please be open to what I am offering you here. Israel is not a left v. right issue, and Dennis will give you an understanding of the issues with a clarity that is all too rare today. We begin our Scholar-in-Residence program with an explanation of the Israel/Palestinian conflict:
In less than six minutes, you now have more clarity about the cause of the Israel/Palestinian conflict than many so-called experts. The only thing I wish Dennis had made explicit in the lecture is that the Six Day War was started by Egypt closing off Israeli access to the Straits of Tiran. President Lyndon Johnson called this an act of war under international law.
Our second lecture from our Scholar-in-Residence addresses the charge made famous by a former U.S. President who used it in the title of his book. It is now one of the claims made by Abbas to the United Nations. Is Israel, like South Africa was, an apartheid state?
Again, in less than six minutes, it should be crystal clear that the charge of Israel being an apartheid state is nothing more than a lie. Watching these two lectures took less than twelve minutes. Assuming another three minutes to read my text, you have achieved clear expertise on the Middle East in just under fifteen minutes.
There are more fine courses on many subjects that you can view at Dennis's latest online project, Prager University.
I also hope you will click on this link to follow me on Twitter.
Thank you for visiting The Rabbi's Study for this Scholar-in-Residence event with Dennis Prager.
Until next time, Shalom!
Posted by Rabbi Benjamin Sendrow at 10/31/2011 10:56 AM 
Categories: Contemporary Issues, Israel, Issues Of Our Times
Categories: Contemporary Issues, Israel, Issues Of Our Times
Mr. Prager is a charismatic and convincing speaker. He also appears to be skilled in the art of obfuscation.
Admittedly, the term ‘apartheid’ is rather too harsh to describe the status of Israeli Arabs. ‘Discrimination’ overt and subtle, is more fitting.
Citing just two examples; the inability of Israeli Arabs to serve in the active Israeli army, and the significant discrepancy in the provision of services to predominant Arab neighborhoods as compared to that of other Israelis.
The treatment of Israeli Arabs, and indeed, to a lesser extent, dark skinned Jews is reminiscent of the status, until quite recently, of Afro-Americans.
Israel is certainly not a nirvana for the Arab population.
I agree there is, generally, a terrible hostility against Israel boiling in the Arab psyche.
But why?
Some is taught and is outwardly irrational.
But some is provoked.
Again, just one example: Expanding Jewish settlements on disputed land claimed by its resident Arab population, especially in the West Bank. One cannot talk peace while pouring acid on open wounds.
One cannot talk peace while scuttling the agreements, made with the American allies to put a hold on construction.
There is much more to be said; but enough for now.
Jack Kamen
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I believe that Israeli Arabs can indeed serve in the IDF, though few choose to do so. I believe the distinction is that Israeli minorities, not just Arabs, are not required to serve in the IDF, but neither are they banned from service. I will do some fact checking and report back on this question.
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I did some belated checking and found that Bedouin Arabs are actively recruited to serve in the IDF.
Some Israeli Arabs (including women) have served with distinction in non-combative areas, predominantly in the medical corps.
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