I'd say that not only Israelis, but generally people in Middle East are preoccupied with the notion of race/religion as an identity. It's a state of being, reinforced by decades of conflict/victimisation. I'm not blaming anyone here. Just describing the sad state of affairs.

However, if the US can turn things around in 50 years from a situation even worse than it is today in Israel, it gives us all hope doesn't it?