Israeli Children Learning

From the BBC:
"Arabic to become compulsory in Israeli schools"

The Israeli authorities are introducing a new scheme to make Arabic-language classes compulsory in state schools. The programme, which will start in 170 schools in northern Israel, will make lessons mandatory for fifth graders. Education officials hope the scheme, called "Ya Salam", will turn language into a cultural bridge and promote tolerance between Jews and Arabs. Arab students currently are required to learn Hebrew while Jewish children can take Arabic as an additional language. But increasing demand from students to study Arabic as part of their school matriculation certificate, the Bagrut, had prompted changes to the national curriculum, officials said. "We live in a country that has two official languages," Shlomo Alon, head of Arabic and Islamic Education at the ministry of education, was quoted as saying by Haaretz newspaper. "Studying Arabic will promote tolerance and convey a message of acceptance." Mr Alon said the ministry was interested in recognising all of the state's citizens and providing opportunities for Arab teachers within Israeli education. There are some 1,000 Arabic teachers, most of them Jewish. "The state aspires to complete equality of citizenship. We will not deal with conflicts based on cultural identity," he added.

^ While I do not think that learning Arabic will bring the Israelis and Arabs closer together (since Arabs learn Hebrew and it doesn't bring them closer to the Israelis.) The fact is that Israel has two official languages - Hebrew and Arabic - and so both languages should be taught to all its citizens. The Arabs should learn Hebrew and the Israelis should learn Arabic. It is the same thing as in Canada where English and French are both official. English Canadians need to learn French and French Canadians need to learn English. If Israelis do not want their children to learn Arabic then they need to make Hebrew the only official language. Until that happens children need to learn both. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11075326