Letter: In Israel only Jews have rights as ..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

This week KUED aired another less-than-honest documentary about Israel. I was disappointed.

The documentary began by describing Israel as the "only democracy in the Middle East" and offered as proof, the claim that Israel grants "full citizenship rights" to Palestinian Arabs who live in Israel.

But in Israel "citizen" is an empty word used by the state primarily to deceive. Under Israel's laws, it is only those designated "Jewish nationals" who enjoy rights that we Americans expect for citizens.

Israel's Palestinian-Arab "citizens" are not considered members of the state, do not have equal rights or protection in the state, do not have rights to the land and resources of the state, are excluded from the social programs and economic life of the state, and can only vote and run for office if they run on a platform that guarantees continued dominance and rights for Jews alone!

Hardly the laws of a legitimate democracy planning to live in peace, even with its own people, much less its neighbors!

Frances ReMillard

Kamas

Letter: In Israel only Jews have rights as citizens