Comments on: On the Importance of Arabic

By: Yehoshua Friedman

Yehoshua Friedman — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I agree that it would be desirable for Israelis to know at least spoken and preferably also written Arabic. I discussed this with a neighbor who is a high-ranking officer in something involved with security and knows both English and Arabic on a high level as well as his native Hebrew. He says there is no economic incentive for Israelis to learn Arabic because there is no business for them to do in Arabic. Therefore it will not become a priority.

By: LB

LB — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

@anon – Unfortunately, no argument there.

By: anon

anon — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The problem in understanding is not a language problem, but one of mentality. I don’t know Arabic, but I know what the intentions of the Arabs are. People who believe in orwellian doublespeak “victims of peace” will not be persuaded of their folly in any language.

By: LB

LB — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Garnel – I don’t think peace will “break out” anytime soon. But If Israelis understood what people in the neighborhood were saying, Israel would be in a much better starting point for whatever happens. Imagine if Israelis didn’t need MEMRI in order to understand what our “peace partners” were saying. Maybe fewer people would be naive? And that is just one reason. I am not advocating this from a business or economic standpoint (though I can imagine some indirect benefits in that area).

By: Garnel Ironheart

Garnel Ironheart — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

All this presumes that some day peace will break out in the MiddleEast and that local businesses will interact with their Arabic counterparts.
Unfortunately if the precedents set by Egypt and Jordan hold firm – total boycott of Israeli professionals by all major guilds and unions – that’s not likely to happen.
And as long as the Arabs have all the oil and tell their Asian customers to not deal with Israel, there won’t be much opportunity there.
Europe and America don’t represent Israel’s best interests, true, but they are at least willing to interact!

By: LB

LB — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Garnel – “Most Arabs that interact with Jews already know Hebrew.”

That is precisely the problem. Most Arabs can understand Jews, but not vice versa. At least even the playing field.

“Israel’s future is still oriented towards Europe and North America”

That is a problem. Europe and America do not represent Israel’s best interests. Tethering our future to them is foolhardy. Plenty of countries in Asia would be willing to deal with Israel (India, Singapore, even Russia). It won’t a replacement for the U.S. – but this patron-client relationship is not something we should strive for with anyone.

“[Israel future is not oriented towards] their immediate neighbours who want nothing to do with them.”

Like it or not, those are the neighbors. The Middle East plays by different rules than the West, and Israel needs to stop trying to play by Western rules in the Middle East.

By: Garnel Ironheart

Garnel Ironheart — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Let me state a contrarian view. Arabic is not a high priority for Israel. Most Arabs that interact with Jews already know Hebrew. The chances of Israelis needing Arabic so they can travel through the Arabic-speaking world are nil. Israel’s future is still oriented towards Europe and North America, not their immediate neighbours who want nothing to do with them. So why bother? So they can understanding what Abbas and Hamas are saying about them to each other?

By: Hebrew Student

Hebrew Student — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I agree with your article. Learning Arabic is relatively easy for Israelis (native Hebrew speakers) and there is plenty of opportunity for them to practice with Arabic TV, etc. Learning both Hebrew and Arabic together is good for Israelis, because they can understand the politics of the Arab nations around them better. But for Jews outside Israel, Hebrew knowledge is really bad, and should be given priority over Arabic.

By: Lady-Light

Lady-Light — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

So true. I believe the Israeli school system should require English andArabic as a second language. Jewish Day Schools in the U.S. should teach, in addition to Ivrit Tanachit, modern spoken Hebrew as part of the core curriculum.

By: Cosmic X

Cosmic X — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Personally, I would really like to know Arabic. It is no doubt an important language to know in Israel, like it or not.

By: LB

LB — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Many people of that generation in Israel do know Arabic. The disappointing thing is that very few thought it was important enough to pass it on to their kids.

By: Michael W.

Michael W. — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I’m thinking of taking a course of Intro. Arabic in college. The only problem is that half my family is in France so I should improve my lacking French speaking skills. Though my grandparents in France probably know a good amount of Arabic from their decades in Tunisia.