Israel tied for 8th happiest nation in the world, Arab population included

[yllus]

This is another editorial in a continuing series my daily paper is publishing about looking at the Middle East with eyes anew. Some bias is obviously present, but some of that anecdotal information is backed up by facts near the end of the piece.

Brian Henry: Shiny happy Israelis

I was tickled to learn this summer that Canada and Israel have yet one more thing in common: We’re tied for eighth place among the happiest people on Earth.

Some people might be surprised to find Israelis at the top of the happiness charts. After all, Gallup conducted this poll from 2005 to 2009, and during that time, Israel fought two wars.

On top of that, Israel is often protrayed as a monstrous apartheid state. Surely Israeli Arabs must live in utter misery — and since they make up 20% of the population, their despair ought to pop the happiness bubble, right? Apparently not. It seems Israeli Arabs are pretty happy, too.

Arab-Israeli soccer star Beram Kayal has an easy explanation for misconceptions about Israel. “People watch too much television,” he recently told Scotland’s Sunday Herald.

“What the television shows about Israel is totally different [from] what happens. The life between the Jews and the Arabs is very good. I’m an Arab and my agent is Jewish but we’re like family … Maccabi Haifa has seven or eight Arab players and that’s normal. The only difference is their religion, but there’s no conflict.”

...

Israel isn’t paradise of course — except in comparison to most places in the world. For example, the Palestinian-controlled territories rank 88th on the happiness list. Which brings me to a modest proposal: Among other intractable issues, the status of Jerusalem is one of the major stumbling blocks to an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.

Why not hold a referendum? Ask Jerusalem’s Arabs if they want the continuing happiness of being part of a compassionate and caring liberal democracy or if they prefer the abject misery of living under the infinitely corrupt Palestinian Authority.

No one can seriously doubt the result of such a referendum. During the Camp David talks, it was proposed that, as part of a peace agreement, some Israeli Arab towns should be placed on the Palestinian side of the border.

So the Israeli Arab weekly Kul Al-Arab polled the Arabs of Um al Fahm to ask what they thought of their city joining a Palestinian State. Only 11% were in favour; 83% said they preferred to remain Israeli.

 

[PokerGuy]

Stupid article, completely biased.

In light of the alternative (living in an occupied prison territory), being a second class citizen in a relatively comfortable / wealthy nation is much better.

I had to laugh at "compassionate and caring liberal democracy". Suuuuuuuure thing.

 

[Red Dawn]

Well they do seem to enjoy killing each other.

 

[MotF Bane]

No one can seriously doubt the result of such a referendum. During the Camp David talks, it was proposed that, as part of a peace agreement, some Israeli Arab towns should be placed on the Palestinian side of the border.

So the Israeli Arab weekly Kul Al-Arab polled the Arabs of Um al Fahm to ask what they thought of their city joining a Palestinian State. Only 11% were in favour; 83% said they preferred to remain Israeli.

Sounds like a decent way to decide territorial problems.

 

[PokerGuy]

Sounds like a decent way to decide territorial problems.

No, false choices FTL. The choice they are presented with right now is "would you rather be a relatively comfortable second class citizen, or a very miserable prisoner?". There are other options.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I was tickled to learn this summer that Canada and Israel have yet one more thing in common: We’re tied for eighth place among the happiest people on Earth.

On top of that, Israel is often protrayed as a monstrous apartheid state. Surely Israeli Arabs must live in utter misery — and since they make up 20% of the population, their despair ought to pop the happiness bubble, right? Apparently not. It seems Israeli Arabs are pretty happy, too.

Wow, 8th place. Perhaps the Israeli-Arabs are happy since they probably have more freedom and enjoy more economic prosperity than they would just about anywhere else in the Arab world except for perhaps oil-soaked Kuwait and the United Arab Emirites.

For example, the Palestinian-controlled territories rank 88th on the happiness list.

That's much higher than I would have thought.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

No, false choices FTL. The choice they are presented with right now is "would you rather be a relatively comfortable second class citizen, or a very miserable prisoner?". There are other options.

However, assuming that report is accurate, being #8 on the happiness list suggests that they aren't particularly unhappy in Israel. (If you they felt oppressed, shouldn't that reflect on the happiness index?) Also, you have to wonder, wouldn't they be welcome to simply immigrate to other Muslim
nations if they were really unhappy? (If not, then what does that say about their assessments of those other Muslim nations?)

Is it also possible that many would prefer to live under (evil) Israeli rule than Arab rule? Perhaps some of them perceive that Arab governments just aren't the best ones to live under? Is it possible that some of them would perceive living under a truly free Palestinian government as inferior to living under Israeli government?

 

[PokerGuy]

Whipper: Mexicans risk life and limb to have a chance to become second class (illegal) residents of the US. It's all about what your alternatives are.

 

[yllus]

Is it also possible that many would prefer to live under (evil) Israeli rule than Arab rule? Perhaps some of them perceive that Arab governments just aren't the best ones to live under? I sit possible that some of them would perceive living under a truly free Palestinian government as inferior to living under Israeli government?

Yeah, I imagine that given the choice of any one existing regional passport - Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. - most would pick Israel, even with the difference in faiths.

 

[HeXploiT]

Arabs can't be happy in Israel. They must be the oppressed minority.
This cannot be right.

 

[HeXploiT]

Yeah, I imagine that given the choice of any one existing regional passport - Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. - most would pick Israel, even with the difference in faiths.

I would feel ok in Jordan. Wonderful little country.

 

[theeedude]

Arabs can't be happy in Israel. They must be the oppressed minority.
This cannot be right.

Does it include Arabs in the occupied territories?

 

[dainthomas]

Does it include Arabs in the occupied territories?

Probably only the ones in the areas that aren't launching rockets at Israel.

 

[HumblePie]

ignorance is bliss?

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Whipper: Mexicans risk life and limb to have a chance to become second class (illegal) residents of the US. It's all about what your alternatives are.

Which suggests that the U.S. has a good government or at least much more desirable living conditions relative to Mexico.

What is your point? Is it that disparities in the quality of life between different countries may be so great that people would still regard living in the nation with the higher quality of life as a value even if they were only second class residents?

 

[Moonbeam]

People who hate themselves are happy when they are miserable.

 

[Lemon law]

If some other nations fairy God Mother wanted to subsidize me 15K per ca-pita for being a ahole and a pig, I would be the happiest guy in the whole USA. Zippete Dodda, thank you.

But when its my tax payer bucks going to be the gift my Uncle Sucker gives some other ahole and a pig, I ain't exactly a happy camper.

But hell fire I cam sure understand why Israeli's are the 8'th happiest campers in the world. 15 K per peep, it does not get better than that.

 

[Drift3r]

No, false choices FTL. The choice they are presented with right now is "would you rather be a relatively comfortable second class citizen, or a very miserable prisoner?". There are other options.

Funny how many "repressive" nations have allowed "second class" citizens high ranking positions in their armies, elected positions in their political institutions, the ability to serve as a judge in the highest court of their nation, etc?

 

[Jhhnn]

So, uhh, maybe the Israelis could just annex the occupied territories, extend the same rights to the pals who live there as those enjoyed by arab Israelis...

And if not, why not?

 

[MotF Bane]

So, uhh, maybe the Israelis could just annex the occupied territories, extend the same rights to the pals who live there as those enjoyed by arab Israelis...

And if not, why not?

Then you'd scream about them being annexed and not being made an independent state.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

But hell fire I cam sure understand why Israeli's are the 8'th happiest campers in the world. 15 K per peep, it does not get better than that.

They need the $15,000/year per person because they face a genocidal threat from surrounding Muslim nations. (Ya gets it? I kin tawks real Suthern likes too, if me wants.)

What you're missing is that the government is such that in spite of all the genocidal threats directed at the country, mortar attacks, and other terrorist attacks the people are still the 8th happiest according to that report. If it's really true, then the government must be doing something right in terms of its internal policies.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

So, uhh, maybe the Israelis could just annex the occupied territories, extend the same rights to the pals who live there as those enjoyed by arab Israelis...

And if not, why not?

It would probably be one of the best things to ever happen to those people--to get a rational, secular, Western style government and to then have the new, larger Israel be able to stop focusing on conflict and instead focus on economic development. However, the Palestinians' sense of Arab and Muslim pride prevents them from welcoming it. Likewise, if the U.S. annexed Mexico, it would probably be great for the Mexicans (half of whom seem to want to live under the U.S. government anyway).

 

[ZzZGuy]

Look out Israel, Lebanon just allowed arab refugees from gaza/west bank "the right to work in the same professions as other foreigners".


Next they'll be allowed to own property or travel outside their camp without a permit!!! This includes those who were born and lived in Lebanon their entire lives.


http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=185101

 

[Jhhnn]

Then you'd scream about them being annexed and not being made an independent state.

Project and deflect much? Apparently so. I wouldn't scream about it at all.

Whippersnapper's remarks are equally as obtuse. Palestinians can't reject something that's never been offered, that's for sure...

Again, why not?

 

[Orignal Earl]

Colombia ranked 3rd world happiest country, but in this result it failed to 26th!

US was the 16th world nation in happiness (now it made 14th)

UK the 21rst (now 17th)

Ireland that was 6th (happiest than UK) to 22

Israel that was 45 (poor… our dear friend and main ally in Middle East) to 8.

http://colombiapassport.com/2008/07/02/list-of-ranked-happiest-countries-by-world-values-surveys/

Wow Isreal really showed