Galilee council head stirs controversy defending limitations on pool use in Jewish towns. 'Why is it racist?'

Lower Galilee Regional Council head Motti Dotan stirred up controversy on Thursday after he defended the practice of barring access to local swimming pools to non-residents, which some claim is used to prevent Arabs from using facilities in Jewish communities.

The former Labor member turned Likudnik said he “didn’t want to see them in our pools”, rejecting suggestions the desire for separation was rooted in racism.

Speaking to Kol Rega on Thursday, Dotan insisted he bears no malice towards Israel’s Arab population, but recognizes there are different cultural norms.

“I don’t hate Arabs,” said Dotan, “but I don’t want to see them in our pools.”

“I don’t go to their pools,” he added, saying that there is a clear difference between the two cultures. “Why is that racist?”

“If they would behave according to our norms, then I’d have no problem. But that doesn’t happen, so I generalize. When Jewish men and women will feel comfortable in an Arab town, then I will be happy to have them over. But until that happens, I don’t want them.”