Arabs are Okay, But I Wouldn't Let My Daughter Date One

This editorial was originally published as a letter to the editor in the Santa Fe New Mexican on April 10, 2011.

Palestinians who aren’t Israeli citizens are banned from living in Israel with their Israeli spouses. Imagine the United States refusing residency to Jews who are not U.S. citizens but are married to someone who is. Recently, several hundred prominent Israeli rabbis (many state-employed municipal rabbis) urged Jews not to rent to Palestinians. A group of the rabbis’ wives urged Jews not to date Palestinians. A recent poll shows only 51% of Israelis believe Palestinians should have equal rights.

Rabbi Gilad Kariv, head of Israel’s Reform branch of Judaism, has warned, "Israeli society is falling into a deep, dark pit of racism and xenophobia.” Zionism, an extreme form of ethnic nationalism, mandates the demographic superiority and cultural dominance of one ethic group over another. Are we surprised that this ideology has fostered a bigoted, intolerant society? There will be no equitable justice in Palestine until Zionism is abandoned.