Foreign Correspondence

[fuagf]

PM slams 'discrimination' against Arabs
By ELIE LESHEM AND JPOST.COM STAFF

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday railed against what he
termed 60 years of "deep-seated discrimination" against Arab Israelis.

Slideshow: Pictures of the week .. inside ..

"For sixty years there has been discrimination against Arabs in Israel. This discrimination
is deep-seated and intolerable," Olmert said while addressing a meeting of the Knesset
committee that is investigating the lack of integration of Arab citizens in public service.

MK Ahmed Tibi, the chairman of the committee, had proposed establishing an
apparatus to supervise the incorporation of Arabs in the Israeli public services.

World Likud Head Danny Danon lashed out at the prime minister following the
remarks, saying that Olmert was overlooking efforts by Arabs to "undermine security."

"Olmert thinks that in his final months as prime minister he can dole out statements that
will cause his failures and deeds to be forgotten," Dannon said in a statement. "This week he
declared that it is necessary to cede land to our enemies and today he is ignoring the efforts of
the Israeli Arab leadership, which is doing everything in its power to undermine state security."

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