How Arab Boy Wins Israeli School Quiz on Zionism
[My Australasia]
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli Arab schoolboy outshone Jewish counterparts to grab a share of victory in a school quiz on the history of Zionism and the creation of Israel, officials said Wednesday.
Rami Wated, 12, and Jewish teammate Guy Gothertz clinched a joint first place with an all-Jewish pair after being quizzed on the history of Jewish nationalism, said Kobby Barda, spokesman for the city of Tel Aviv, which sponsored the contest.
Wated was the only Arab among the 12 finalists. His prize was a modest plaque.
"Despite the fact that many did not believe that I would win, I prepared well ... It doesn't matter if you are Jewish or Arab, just as long as you can prepare properly," Wated said.
He is a pupil at an Israeli Arab state school where the curriculum on Jewish history is limited compared with that offered in Jewish schools.
"We are from an Arab school where we are not taught about Zionism, but as soon as I saw the booklet to prepare for the subject, I took to it immediately," Wated said.
The young resident of the ancient port of Jaffa next to Tel Aviv said he had prepared in part by reading up on streets named after important figures in the history of Zionism, the movement which led to Jewish statehood in Palestine in 1948.
Israeli Arabs comprise about 20 percent of the country's 6.78 million population. They have long complained of prejudice and a shortage of government funds for their towns, schools and institutions.
Israeli officials deny any policy of discrimination.
Arab deputies serve in the Israeli parliament. Israeli Arab players came to the rescue of Israel's national soccer team, leading the squad to 1-1 draws in both of its last two World Cup qualifying matches.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli Arab schoolboy outshone Jewish counterparts to grab a share of victory in a school quiz on the history of Zionism and the creation of Israel, officials said Wednesday.
Rami Wated, 12, and Jewish teammate Guy Gothertz clinched a joint first place with an all-Jewish pair after being quizzed on the history of Jewish nationalism, said Kobby Barda, spokesman for the city of Tel Aviv, which sponsored the contest.
Wated was the only Arab among the 12 finalists. His prize was a modest plaque.
"Despite the fact that many did not believe that I would win, I prepared well ... It doesn't matter if you are Jewish or Arab, just as long as you can prepare properly," Wated said.
He is a pupil at an Israeli Arab state school where the curriculum on Jewish history is limited compared with that offered in Jewish schools.
"We are from an Arab school where we are not taught about Zionism, but as soon as I saw the booklet to prepare for the subject, I took to it immediately," Wated said.
The young resident of the ancient port of Jaffa next to Tel Aviv said he had prepared in part by reading up on streets named after important figures in the history of Zionism, the movement which led to Jewish statehood in Palestine in 1948.
Israeli Arabs comprise about 20 percent of the country's 6.78 million population. They have long complained of prejudice and a shortage of government funds for their towns, schools and institutions.
Israeli officials deny any policy of discrimination.
Arab deputies serve in the Israeli parliament. Israeli Arab players came to the rescue of Israel's national soccer team, leading the squad to 1-1 draws in both of its last two World Cup qualifying matches.
posted by 9T9 at
5:53 pm
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