Comments on: Minority rights – the key to peace in the Middle East? http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/08/07/minority-rights-the-key-to-peace-in-the-middle-east/ Promoting a fierce but respectful dialogue among the highly diverse youth of the Middle East Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:34:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Esra'a (Bahrain)http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/08/07/minority-rights-the-key-to-peace-in-the-middle-east/#comment-197942 Esra'a (Bahrain) Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:11:01 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/08/07/minority-rights-the-key-to-peace-in-the-middle-east/#comment-197942 <blockquote>which is why it ignores the mention of the largest minority in the ME -Israeli Arabs!</blockquote> Nope. The largest minority in the Middle East are the Kurds.However you raise a valid point. Israeli Arabs are consistently undergoing abuse and <a href="http://www.mossawacenter.org/" rel="nofollow">discrimination</a> in Israel. It is incredibly unfortunate because they are ignored in the Arab world because they are Israeli, and they are ignored and abused within Israel because they are Arab. We should certainly find ways to support their cause. It is sad to see so many Jews and Israelis being in utter denial of how much racism this minority is facing both from the government and from other Israeli citizens.

which is why it ignores the mention of the largest minority in the ME -Israeli Arabs!

Nope. The largest minority in the Middle East are the Kurds.

However you raise a valid point. Israeli Arabs are consistently undergoing abuse and discrimination in Israel. It is incredibly unfortunate because they are ignored in the Arab world because they are Israeli, and they are ignored and abused within Israel because they are Arab. We should certainly find ways to support their cause. It is sad to see so many Jews and Israelis being in utter denial of how much racism this minority is facing both from the government and from other Israeli citizens.

]]> By: Mwhttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/08/07/minority-rights-the-key-to-peace-in-the-middle-east/#comment-197902 Mw Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:34:17 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/08/07/minority-rights-the-key-to-peace-in-the-middle-east/#comment-197902 This conference is being organised by a Jewish group which is why it ignores the mention of the largest minority in the ME -Israeli Arabs! - Its juts another exercise in Arab/Muslim bashing This conference is being organised by a Jewish group which is why it ignores the mention of the largest minority in the ME -Israeli Arabs! – Its juts another exercise in Arab/Muslim bashing

]]> By: Mohammad Memarian (Iran)http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/08/07/minority-rights-the-key-to-peace-in-the-middle-east/#comment-181925 Mohammad Memarian (Iran) Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:33:55 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/08/07/minority-rights-the-key-to-peace-in-the-middle-east/#comment-181925 As for the Sunnis getting intergrated in Iran's social structure, I think there is a wide range of real opportunities. Iranian officials calim that they are seeking Muslim Unity. We can ask them to clarify this claim, and determine whether it's a short-term strategy so as to beat the common enemy, or there is a more fundamental rationale to this practice (in which I truly believe). We may convince the whole population that Sunni-Shiite reconciliation is possible even withough either group giving up its principal beliefs. Though this process may take several years or even a generation, its worth all efforts.As for the Bahais in Iran, I think that we need some pioneers to establish Muslim-Bahai dialogue (in Persian) so as to remove the pile of misinformation regarding Bahai sect as well as play a role-model (of social interaction). It's again possible, though needs a lot more patience. As for the Sunnis getting intergrated in Iran’s social structure, I think there is a wide range of real opportunities. Iranian officials calim that they are seeking Muslim Unity. We can ask them to clarify this claim, and determine whether it’s a short-term strategy so as to beat the common enemy, or there is a more fundamental rationale to this practice (in which I truly believe). We may convince the whole population that Sunni-Shiite reconciliation is possible even withough either group giving up its principal beliefs. Though this process may take several years or even a generation, its worth all efforts.

As for the Bahais in Iran, I think that we need some pioneers to establish Muslim-Bahai dialogue (in Persian) so as to remove the pile of misinformation regarding Bahai sect as well as play a role-model (of social interaction). It’s again possible, though needs a lot more patience.

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