Twelve senior Arab Israeli physicians, many of them hospital department heads, have accused the Israeli Medical Association of racism after a senior official allegedly opposed changing the association's election system to prevent an Arab doctor from becoming chair. In a letter to the association's chairman, the doctors expressed shock at remarks made during a committee meeting, calling the stance 'crude racism' and vowing to fight any form of discrimination in the medical field. The Israeli Medical Association has strongly denied the allegations, stating that it has always promoted equality and unity among physicians of all backgrounds, and that the claims are baseless and intended to sow discord. The association said it investigated the matter and found the accusations to be unfounded, reaffirming its commitment to fairness and solidarity within the medical community.