# Is Israel acting like 1930s Germany? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 13, 2000, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782 "2000-10-13T13:02:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/41 "2000-10-17T00:03:20Z")
> [@](#): > > A common misconception is that the Palestinians are uniformly Muslim. Actually, many are Christian. Not uniformly, no. but damn close, according to these numbers from [http://www.infoplease.com](http://www.infoplease.com) : > [@](#): > > **West Bank:** Muslim 75%, Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8% > **Gaza Strip:** Muslim 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6% I realize it’s just an almanac, but between the news and my friends who have lived in the Middle East, the proposed state of Palestine would have very few Christinas among its citizens. ---
**Author:** ![Eggs\_a\_la\_Ted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Eggs\_a\_la\_Ted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eggs_a_la_Ted)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/42 "2000-10-17T10:17:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Akatsukami \* > **Eggs à la Ted** misstates: > > > [@](#): > > > > More accurate would be to say that arabs are BANNED from military training, just as they are forbidden to carry firearms > > Actually, this is completely wrong. Since 1957, conscription _has_ been in effect among both Druse and Circassians (at their request). It was meant as an example of religious discrimination, not racial (trying to argue that jews are anti-semitic would probably be a little over the top), so I suppose I should have said _islamic_ arabs. The druze are a separate religous group, not moslems. The circassians are not arabs at all, and there are only a handful of them in Israel. Conscription does NOT apply to _Islamic_ arabs. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Akatsukami \*Morever, many Bedouin join the IDF _as careerists_. Apparently there are at least some bedouin soldiers in the IDF, but “many” is a very subjective statement. I don’t suppose you have a specific number there? I would be very surprised if there were more than a few hundred. I still say ‘banned from military service’ is a lot closer to the truth than ‘free from military service’. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Akatsukami \*Now, George Habash probably wouldn’t be enrolled in the IDF if he showed up at a recruiting station. OTOH, I think that there may be reasons for that other than his being an Arab. \*\* And the reasons for the other 900,000 _islamic_ arabs who don’t happen to be terrorist leaders? ---
**Author:** ![Eggs\_a\_la\_Ted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Eggs\_a\_la\_Ted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eggs_a_la_Ted)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/43 "2000-10-17T10:26:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by David B \* > \*\*Ted said: > > > [@](#): > > > > arabs are BANNED from military training, just as they are forbidden to carry firearms > > Yeah. Those Palestinian “police officers” were firing BB guns at the Israeli army… \*\* I was referring to: 1. Civilians, not the palestinian police. 2. Israel, not the areas controlled by palestinians. Civilian jews in Israel are allowed to carry weapons. Arabs are not. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/44 "2000-10-17T11:57:54Z")
I have to tell you, at this particular point in time, I’m having a hard time disagreeing with Israel’s decision regarding guns… ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/45 "2000-10-17T12:28:14Z")
There’s lots of confusion (or simply fuzzy wording, perhaps) in some of these posts. I re-iterate, let’s not confuse Arab Israelis (that is, Arabs ethnicity who are citizens of Israel) with Palestinians (that is, Arab ethnicity but NOT citizens of Israel.) Arab Israelis (Arab citizens of Israel) have full rights under Israeli law, with the EXCEPTION that they are excused from the compulsory military service that all other Israelis are subject to. The reason behind this exemption is so that they will not be forced to go to war with their relatives in the neighboring Arab states; to avoid putting them in that moral predicament, they may be excused from military service. In the past, many Arab Israelis did not exercise their exemption, and served in the Israeli army anyway. ---
**Author:** ![jesuslynch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@jesuslynch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesuslynch)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/46 "2000-10-17T15:29:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blessedwolf \* > …Take a tour of Yad Va’Shem, the Holocaust museum. Look at the pictures of Concentration Camp victims. You know, the ones who were 65 lbs. right before being led to the gas chambers. Then you can take the famous “Palestinian Ghetto Tour” that everyone’s been raving about. Laugh at all the funny starving **ragheads** , yeah! … (bolding mine) ::Raises his hand to ask a question:: Is everyone ok with this term? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/47 "2000-10-17T16:42:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Is everyone ok with this term? In context, sure. Would you like to state your objections? ---
**Author:** ![jesuslynch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@jesuslynch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesuslynch)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/48 "2000-10-17T17:32:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andros \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Is everyone ok with this term? > > In context, sure. Would you like to state your objections? \*\* Sure, no problem. It was used in context in the Pit and was deamed as “Hate Speech.” Does it being in GD make it ok? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/49 "2000-10-17T18:02:45Z")
Well, it was certainly used in a _different_ context in the Pit thread. Along with other bile-soaked invective. As I read the post in question in this thread, I see someone ridiculing the mindset of “University Idealism.” Whether he’s right or wrong, **Blessedwolf** was making a point through sarcasm. He didn’t use a rolleyes smiley, but that was how I saw things. No “hate speech,” but a vehement protest against what he found to be an offensive OP. Obviously you did not interpret it in the same way I did, and I don’t presume to speak for **Blessedwolf**. But as the discussion has more or less petered out at this point, you might want ot take it up in another thread if you wish him to explain further. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/50 "2000-10-17T22:34:23Z")
Johnny, I suggest you raise the specter of Nazism only when the gravity of the situation justifies the charge, as in the Turkish slaughter of Armenians or the Cambodian holocaust. In this case, crying “Nazi!” suggests at best that you have no conception of history and are unaware of how trivializing the meaning of Nazism insults its victims. Unfortunately, many people including anti-abortion rights activists misuse the term constantly. As far as mistreatment of ethnic minorities, you will find many regimes in the Arab world far more repressive than Israel (and which are not under constant assault from myriad outside enemies). Still, I would not liken any of them to 1930s Germany. “Fly that plane, white boy” - Antoine de St. Exupery ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/51 "2000-10-18T01:23:18Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, Jackmanni\*- posting your 1st in GD, very brave. \*unless you are JohnyLA, but have just changed names. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/52 "2000-10-18T02:46:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*unless you are JohnyLA, but have just changed names. Uh… Nope. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/53 "2000-10-18T05:11:04Z")
Where did _that_ come from? ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/54 "2000-10-18T05:23:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andros \* > \*\*Where did _that_ come from? \*\* I was just welcoming a newcomer. Then I noticed his sig was a quote from the same guy JLA uses (and just who is that, anyway?). As we have had some folks change their usernames here recently (legally), I wanted to make sure I was not just welcoming ol’ JLA. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/55 "2000-10-18T05:30:14Z")
Daniel: Antoine de St. Exupéry, “The Little Prince”. One of the best children’s books ever written. It almost makes you like the French. ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/56 "2000-10-18T06:09:01Z")
Right after i posted, I remembered, doh! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/57 "2000-10-18T14:08:35Z")
Actually, “Fly that plane, white boy” is a quote from one of the characters in a Richard Wright book. Ol’ Antoine was a pilot who went down in flames though, so it seemed to fit… ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782/58 "2000-10-18T19:29:18Z")
Gotcha. I didn’t notice the sigs, so didn’t see any relation between Johnny and Jackmanii. Carry on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-israel-acting-like-1930s-germany/36782.md?page=2)