Reply #17: Thank You, Doctor

[The Magistrate]

Your compliments are much appreciated.

There are several reasons it seems to me that there would be some deterioration in the quality of life or Arab Israelis in the wake of a settlement. First, in this current round of hostilities, a good many Arab Israelis seem to have identified somewhat with their cousins outside that state. This will be remembered by the extremist parties among Israeli Jews, who may be expected to kick up a campaign against "the enemy within" after a settlement, if only to vent their spleen in the absence of a more real enemy without: such organizations need an object for hatred, and Arab Israelis will do nicely. Second, the demographic difficulty will remain owing to the unequal birthrates, and this will give a sort of cover to such feelings....