Why some Arabs love Israel?

Question

"Arabs in Israel vote. They elect leaders to the Knesset [Israeli parliament]. They have their own political parties. They have their own newspapers. They have full rights to citizenship. They are free to speak their minds. As an Arab-American journalist who has spent a good deal of time covering the region, I can tell you there is more freedom for Arabs in Israel than in any Arab state."
Joseph Farah, WND, 2003
Source: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31947

Answer 1

Joseph Farah is editor of World Net Daily, a commentator on our times, evangelical Christian, strong friend of Israel, and very outspoken on current issues from a biblical perspective. He is an Arab-American of Lebanese descent.

Not all Arabs are Muslims. Joseph Farah is a Christian as are many Arabs. (Conversely, not all Muslims are Arabs.)

It is the Muslims who are against the state of Israel. Muslims could chose to live in Israel peacefully side-by-side with Jews (and other non-Muslims). Muslims are bound by the Qur'an not to take Jews (or other non-Muslims) as their friends but they could just live peacefully. This, however, will not happen so long as Muslim leaders insist of focusing on the parts of the Qur'an that call for elimination of fitnah (unbelief and persecution.)

The Qur'an says [English, transliteration, Arabic]:
(8:39) "So fight them until there is no more fitnah (disbelief or worship of any god but Allah) and all submit to the religion of Allah alone (in the whole world)" ... "And fight with them until there is no more fitnah (persecution) and religion should be only for Allah"

Waqatiloohum hatta la takoona fitnatun wayakoona alddeenu kulluhu lillahi fa-ini intahaw fa-inna Allaha bima yaAAmaloona baseerun

وَقَتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلَّهِ فَإِنْ انتَهَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

4:76 Those who believe (Muslims) fight in the cause of God, and those who reject Faith (non-Muslims) Fight in the cause of Evil: So fight ye against the friends of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan. (Yusuf Ali trans.)

Allatheena amanoo yuqatiloona fee sabeeli Allahi waallatheena kafaroo yuqatiloona fee sabeeli alttaghooti faqatiloo awliyaa alshshaytani inna kayda alshshaytani kana daAAeefan

الَّذِينَ ءامَنُوا يُقَتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يُقَتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ الطَّغُوتِ فَقَتِلُوا أَوْلِيَاءَ الشَّيْطَنِ إِنَّ كَيْدَ الشَّيْطَنِ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا

(4:89) They (unbelievers) but wish that ye should reject Faith (Islam), as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of God (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks; (Yusuf Ali trans.)

Waddoo law takfuroona kama kafaroo fatakoonoona sawaan fala tattakhithoo minhum awliyaa hatta yuhajiroo fee sabeeli Allahi fa-in tawallaw fakhuthoohum waoqtuloohum haythu wajadtumoohum wala tattakhithoo minhum waliyyan wala naseeran

وَدُّوا لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَاءً فَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ حَتَّى يُهَاجِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَخُذُوهُمْ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا مِنْهُمْ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا

Answer 2

I've been in Israel and know you speak the truth. Thank you so much for saying this. I am not Jewish but it warms my heart to hear an Arab-American say this.

Answer 3

Check http://www.arabsforisrael.com

And

One Lebanese woman's perspective:

"For the millions of Christian Lebanese driven out of our homeland, 'Thank you, Israel' is the sentiment echoing from around the world"
http://www.arutzsheva.com/article.php3?id=6387

Answer 4

Yup. And they love Israel because it is their homeland too.