Israel Matzav

'Israeli Arabs': Don't do us any favors

Israel's Science Ministry would like to do something that would help develop the economy of its Arab citizens. Specifically, they would like to open a Space Museum in the 'Israeli Arab' town of Taybeh, which is located in the Triangle region. There's just one small problem.... The ministry wants to name the museum after Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut, who was killed in the Shuttle Columbia crash nine years ago. The 'Israeli Arabs' are objecting, and the government says 'no Ramon, no museum.'

In a letter to the Science and Technology Ministy, Tibi said Ramon served in the IAF as a fighter pilot, which could offend the Arab community. Calling the decision "distasteful" and "unjustified," Tibi noted that during Ramon's military service, he attacked civilian targets in Lebanon and participated in the attack on Iraq's nuclear reactor.

"Upon receiving my invitation to the space center's opening ceremony, I was very surprised to see that it was being named after Ilan Ramon," Tibi said. "Although I admit the circumstances of his death were tragic, I don't think it is appropriate to name a space station in an Arab village after him."

Responding to Tibi's comments, Science and Technology Minister Daniel Hershkovitz (Habayit Hayehudi) said the center would be named "after an Israeli hero who was instrumental in fighting Islamic terrorism both inside Israel's borders and outside."

Herschkowitz said that all of Israel's space centers were named after Ramon and if Tibi did not want Taybeh's center named after him, Taybeh would not receive a space center.

"I do not accept these ridiculous and provocative assertions (by Tibi) that the name would be acceptable in Ra'anana (a predominantly Jewish city) but not in Taybeh," Herschkowitz said.

Gadi Ramon, the brother of the fallen Israeli astronaut, challenged Tibi to decide whether or not he wants to be a member of the State of Israel. He added that he does not view being an Arab and being a Zionist as mutually exclusive.

"I work with many people from the Arab sector and they treated my brother with respect and admiration," Army Radio quoted him as saying.

YNet adds:

Tibi suggested naming the center after a Muslim space scientist or simply calling it the "Tayibe Space Center."

Hershkowitz said in response that building a space center in the periphery is part of his ministry's plan to "make science accessible to the entire population and help narrow the gaps within Israeli society."

The minister said Tibi "crossed a red line" and is "causing great damage, particularly to the public he represents, and to Israeli society as a whole.

"All space centers (in Israel) are named after Ramon, and if Tayibe does not want a space center named after him, it won't have a space center at all," Hershkowitz said. "You can’t accept State funds and at the same time ridicule one of its heroes, who fought devotedly against Islamist terror, both in Israel and abroad."

Why a Muslim space scientist if so many Arabs are Christians? It would likely be easier to find a Christian space scientist than a Muslim one. Oh... I forgot... Muslims invented space.

Heh.

Labels: Israeli Arab, Space museum

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:42 PM