The Arab Minority in Israel

1
The Arab Minority in Israel

• Between a Jewish State and a Democratic state

2
From Fifth Column to Equal Citizens

• After the War of independence, 156,000 Arabs
  stayed in the territory which became the State of
  Israel
• The declaration of Independence promised complete
  equality.
• Arabs participate in the elections. Arab Knesset
  members (Communists, MAPAI - related)
• Martial Law (1949-1966) implemented in
  territories populated by Arabs. Travel
  restrictions. Night curfew. Canceled by 1966

3
Forces of Integration

• The right to vote.
• Recognition of Arabic as a formal language.
• The Histadrut, changed its name and dropped the
  Jewish exclusivity from it (1959)
• Reconciliation with the Arab World (after 1977,
  the 1990s)
• Working in Jewish cities and villages.
• Involvement in sports

4
Force of Segregation

• The law of return and the definition of Israel as
  a Jewish State
• A separate education system
• Arabs are not recruited to the army. Bedouins
  volunteer, Druze serve like other Israeli Jews
• The Kafr Qasim massacre (1956).
• Al Ard party (1965)
• The political representation.

5
Israel a Democracy or a Jewish State
Democracy
A Jewish Democratic State
A Jewish State
Law of return to Jews
Arabs right to vote
6
From Equal Citizens to a National Minority

• Regulations restricted the ownership of land.
• Land Day 1976 protests against land
  expropriation
• The rise of Arab nationalist parties (the
  1980s) and the Moslem movement
• The October Riots (2000) and the Or commission
• The surviving generation, the Worn-out
  generation, the Stand-tall generation