Honest Reporting points to an interesting article based on two LA Times articles (here and here) that highlight the difference in attitudes between a palestinian and Israeli youngster of similar socio-economic backgrounds.
On hatred: Lely (the Israeli) says, “Of course not all Arabs are bad…but I hate the ones who are bad. The ones who attack us.” Sami (the Palestinian), on the other hand, “wasn’t raised to hate Jews – but he does.” Says Sami, “We used to think [Israelis] were just people, like us, but now I look at them as the enemy.” Sami’s mother concurs, admitting that she “has come to hate” her old Jewish friends.
On violence: While IDF actions against Palestinians make Lely “uneasy” and “angry,” Sami fully supports Palestinian terror – suicide bombers are “a fine idea.”
On the future: The final sentence of these profiles sums up each child’s vision for the future. Lely hopes for a safer, peaceful world: “I believe that sometime things will change here – I hope.” Sami, on the other hand, pledges more violence – regarding the supposed ending of the intifada, Sami “clicked his tongue scornfully” and said, “It’s just begun.”
The Times’ profiles provide a sincere window to the two communities. The contrast is striking: Despite local terror, the Israeli child recognizes the good in Palestinians and seeks peace; the Palestinian child expresses hate and pledges more violence.
This difference in attitude is hardly surprising given the atmosphere of incitement and hate in which palestinian children are raised.
