TORONTO-NEW YORK – “The Reform movement is ignoring the most important problem concerning some Israeli Arabs – their questionable loyalty to Israel,” declared Morton A. Klein, national president of the Zionist Organization of America, in reaction to a resolution at the recent Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) biennial, which took place in Toronto (see Jewish Tribune, Nov. 12, 2009). The movement unanimously passed a resolution calling for equality for Israel’s Arab citizens, who constitute approximately 20 per cent of the population. According to the URJ, better treatment of the Arab population would ultimately strengthen Israel and is consistent with Jewish values.

Organizations such as the New Israel Fund have always been strong advocates on behalf of the Israeli Arabs and support for this cause has been increasing dramatically among North American Jews. In 2006, even the Jewish Agency, which according to its web site has been providing more than 80 years of service to the Jewish people and “has been synonymous with the efforts to rescue Jews at risk and the resettlement of the Jewish people in its homeland,” began providing support to the Arab communities there.

Klein addressed the issue of allegiance to the Jewish state.

“Virtually every Israeli Arab Knesset member has praised Israel’s enemies, like Hamas and Syria; remained silent on Arab terrorism against Jews, and condemned Israeli defensive actions,” he asserted. “Israeli Arab deputy Knesset speaker Ahmed Tibi openly says he represents the Palestinians. There have also been repeated episodes of Israeli Arabs murdering Israeli Jews.”

For example, the murderer of eight innocent high school students at Jerusalem’s Yeshivat Mercaz Harav in March 2008 was a local Arab.

Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice-chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said the leaders of the Israeli-Arab community must be held accountable, which “means that when there are incitements or actions that are detrimental, they need to counter it.”

– with files from JTA