Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Who are Arab Israelis ? Have integrated into the Jewish society?

 Arab Israelis, also referred to as Arab citizens of Israel, constitute the largest ethnic minority in Israel, making up just over 20% of the country's population

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 They are a diverse group, with the majority being Muslim, but there are also significant Christian and Druze communities
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 The term "Arab Israelis" is often used to distinguish these citizens from Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
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 However, the terminology around this population is complex and politically charged, with some members of this community identifying as "Palestinian citizens of Israel"
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The question of integration of Arab Israelis into Jewish society is multifaceted. On one hand, there are signs of integration. For instance, some Arab Israelis have adopted Hebrew as a second language and Israeli culture as an extra layer in their lives
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 A significant number of Arab Israelis aspire to integrate into Israeli society and the state
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 In recent years, Arab Israelis have seen gains in employment and higher education
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However, there are also significant barriers and challenges to integration. Arab Israelis often live in poorer cities, have less formal education, and face other challenges that some experts attribute to structural discrimination
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 They often do not receive the same quality of services as their Jewish counterparts
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 Arab political parties have long struggled to gain representation in Israel’s government
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 Arab Israelis have also protested what they see as official discrimination from the government, including a 2018 law that declared Israel the nation-state of the Jewish people, and said only Jews had the “right to national self-determination” in the country
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In conclusion, while there are signs of integration of Arab Israelis into Jewish society, significant challenges and barriers remain. The situation is complex and influenced by a variety of factors, including political, social, and economic conditions.

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