# Israel is developing a weapon targeting Arabs **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 2, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146 "2006-09-02T01:33:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/21 "2006-09-02T02:36:53Z")
The OP mentions “a biological weapon that would harm Arabs while leaving Jews unaffected”. Implicit in the notion is that Jews constitute a race (and for that matter, the Arabs). It is worth repeating, from **Astro** ’s second link: > [@](#): > > “Jew” is not an identifiable race. There are Caucasian and Negro Jews, Indian, Arab and Hispanic Jews. Some are born into the religion. Some covert. It’s like any other religion, really. Hey, there are even [Chinese Jews](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaifeng_Jews) (where’s the orthodox Jewish smiley guy when you really need him?) ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/22 "2006-09-02T02:37:15Z")
In related news, [Tropical Fantasy](http://www.snopes.com/racial/business/tropical.asp) contains a special ingredient that will render black men sterile. Hey it’s from 1991, so it trumps 1998 😉 ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/23 "2006-09-02T02:38:25Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] Unfortunately, there is so much actual evil being perpetuated in this world that we can’t really afford to waste time, energy, or resources worrying about what people are only thinking about doing. [/QUOTE] How the fuck are you sure that “the Jews” are even thinking about such a thing? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/24 "2006-09-02T02:40:04Z")
[QUOTE=Xan] Ok I was wrong but it still worries that any nation would even consider such a thing. [/QUOTE] And you, too, asshole. How do you know that _that_ nation is “even considering such a thing”? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/25 "2006-09-02T02:43:31Z")
I’m currently working on a biological agent that’ll target assholes and conspiracy nuts. It gives 'em gas. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/26 "2006-09-02T02:47:24Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] I’m currently working on a biological agent that’ll target assholes and conspiracy nuts. It gives 'em gas. [/QUOTE] Holy shit, man, you may have solved the energy crisis! Although setting up collection points might be a problem… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/27 "2006-09-02T02:49:54Z")
[QUOTE=KarlGauss] Hey, there are even [Chinese Jews](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaifeng_Jews) (where’s the orthodox Jewish smiley guy when you really need him?) [/QUOTE] No there aren’t. I asked if there were any Chinese Jews at a Chinese restaurant one time. The waiter told me there was orange jews, apple jews, grape jews and pineapple jews, but no Chinese Jews! ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/28 "2006-09-02T02:54:03Z")
[QUOTE=Xan] And what do we call this class? Genocide. Yes, that’s right Israel is going to try to commit genocide. This disgusts me. [/QUOTE] Riiiiigggghhhhtttttt. Practicing a religions changes ones DNA. Riiiiigggghhhhtttttt. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/29 "2006-09-02T02:54:58Z")
[QUOTE=Xan] Fine, it’s impossible to do. But isn’t anyone concerned that someone was even thinking of doing it? [/QUOTE] Uh, hey dumbass-ever consider that the whole story was made up by someone who just wanted to smear the Jews? :dubious: Ya think? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/30 "2006-09-02T03:07:47Z")
[QUOTE=Clothahump] Riiiiigggghhhhtttttt. Practicing a religions changes ones DNA. Riiiiigggghhhhtttttt. [/QUOTE] So, the Holocaust was _not_ an act of genocide? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/31 "2006-09-02T03:15:19Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] So, the Holocaust was _not_ an act of genocide? [/QUOTE] No, it was an orange roller coaster dishwasher. I mean, if we’re going to start debating in incoherencies and all. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/32 "2006-09-02T03:20:49Z")
Pardon me in advance for appearing as such a common simpleton in front of an audience full of such infallible sages, but are there not genetic differences between ethnic Jews and your typical Palestinian, just as there are between white, blacks, Asians, and yes even Aleuts? Something has to say: _two ethnic African gametes produce offspring with dark skin, dark eyes, wiry hair, two Asian gametes produce almond-eyes, straight dark hair, etc._ I know they are not 100% accurate but there are genetic tests to determine one’s heritage. As much as it pains some of you to admit it, there **are** physical differences between whites, blacks, Asians, etc. It doesn’t mean one is any better or worse than the other. Of course, it’s a far leap from recognizing differences to killing all of one race with what all of another race is effectively immune to, but I felt that this needed to be pointed out. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/33 "2006-09-02T03:21:08Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] No, it was an orange roller coaster dishwasher. I mean, if we’re going to start debating in incoherencies and all. [/QUOTE] Hitler’s dishwasher? ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/34 "2006-09-02T03:26:31Z")
[QUOTE=KarlGauss] How the fuck are you sure that “the Jews” are even thinking about such a thing? [/QUOTE] WTF? 😕 I was responding to a very specific sentence, which I took the time to C&P, that we have enough to worry about with what people are _doing_ without worrying about what people are _thinking_. I never commented on the article or the assertions of the OPer. I sure as hell never posted anything indicating I agree with him. So you can dial down your hostility, mkay? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/35 "2006-09-02T03:28:50Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] Pardon me in advance for appearing as such a common simpleton in front of an audience full of such infallible sages, but are there not genetic differences between ethnic Jews and your typical Palestinian, just as there are between white, blacks, Asians, and yes even Aleuts? Something has to say: _two ethnic African gametes produce offspring with dark skin, dark eyes, wiry hair, two Asian gametes produce almond-eyes, straight dark hair, etc._ I know they are not 100% accurate but there are genetic tests to determine one’s heritage. As much as it pains some of you to admit it, there **are** physical differences between whites, blacks, Asians, etc. It doesn’t mean one is any better or worse than the other. Of course, it’s a far leap from recognizing differences to killing all of one race with what all of another race is effectively immune to, but I felt that this needed to be pointed out. [/QUOTE] Semitic origin Arabs and Semitic origin Palestinians are likely to be very close genetically, and developing a genetically targeted weapon that will effectively parse out these differences and exploit them, without whacking off a good chunk of the weapon users population is effectively impossible even in some super duper future science scenario. The populations are too close genetically. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/36 "2006-09-02T03:37:04Z")
NB to OP; please actually read your quote instead of mearly indulging in pseudo intellectual masturbation e.g. : [quote] The “ethno-bomb” is reportedly Israel’s response to the threat that Iraq may be just weeks away from completing its own biological weapons."] [quote] :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/37 "2006-09-02T03:38:08Z")
NB to me: please use preview 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/38 "2006-09-02T03:48:57Z")
> [@](#): > > **Miller** wrote: > Have you donated to the Pixie Relief fund? Many Pixies have been deplaced due to ethnic unrest in Never-Never Land. It’s all terribly tragic and nonexistant. Try telling that to my people, who are now living in massive refugee camps on the borders of Candyland and on the beaches of the Butterscotch Sea. You unfeeling bastard. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/39 "2006-09-02T03:50:36Z")
[QUOTE=Xan] Fine, it’s impossible to do. But isn’t anyone concerned that someone was even thinking of doing it? [/QUOTE] So let’s review who we know has been thinking about this. \*\* 1. Xan\*\* So far, that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146/40 "2006-09-02T03:58:57Z")
[QUOTE=astro] Semitic origin Arabs and Semitic origin Palestinians are likely to be very close genetically, and developing a genetically targeted weapon that will effectively parse out these differences and exploit them, without whacking off a good chunk of the weapon users population is effectively impossible… [/QUOTE] Well, you _might_ be able to work out something based on dietary or behavioral differences between the two groups, eg design a bug with a toxin pathway that’s only switched on in the presence of lectins from the fruit of a Baghdad date palm cultivar or some such. It’d be a lot of work, but perhaps not truly impossible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-is-developing-a-weapon-targeting-arabs/371146.md?page=3)