'Jews, Arabs, must focus on common values to foster coexistence' says Rabbi David Stav

• Author: JEREMY SHARON
• Published date: 13 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Speaking in a panel discussion, Stav also rejected any idea that Jews should have greater rights than non-Jews in the State of Israel, saying that equal rights for all citizens was crucial for Israel as a democracy.

"I still believe that if there is a solution to coexistence for Jews ad Arabs it is based on a common denominator that we share together, and these are the values of faith, charity, and family," said Stav.

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"I know from a lot of meetings I have had with Arabs from Lod, Acre, Sakhnin, and other places, that we have so much in common and I urge politicians stop talking about territories and politics, and start talking about the values we share together."

The rabbi said that although "we know that this Holy Land was given to Jewish people" it was essential that all citizens of Israel have equal rights, without which democracy in the country would be "impossible."

Also on the panel was Rabbi Ari Lamm, CEO of the Bnai Zion organization who waxed lyrical about Hebrew civilization's "story-telling" tradition and its importance for national unity and as a tool to fix political polarization.

"To keep a nation together you need stories, you need purpose, you need mission," said Lamm.

"In the history of human thought, it has always and only been Biblical civilization and society which has shown us the blueprint for story-telling and a great shared moral common mission."

Col. (ret.) Eran Lerman, Editor-in-chief, The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune, emphasized that in Israel's conflicts with its regional enemies it was important to distinguish between violent extremists versions of Islam, as expounded and carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its various proxies such as Hezbollah and Hamas, and the broader Islamic world.

"Our common enemy is not Islam as a religion or civilization, which belongs to the community of...