Lecture in Interdisciplinary Center, Herzlia December 2003
Israeli Arabs Bridging the Gap
David Nachmias, The Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy, The Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya
I am a researcher of public policy and governance. I look at the ability of the government to govern. I want to emphasize the report and work of the late Prof. Shprinzak. The result from the fact that there are two nations living in the same country and no in peaceful co-existence between them is what we are living through today. Solving a problem and managing a problem in public policy are two different things. No immediate and effective solution has been found to solve the problem between the Arab minority and the Jewish majority in the state of Israel. Managing the problem effectively will reduce the impacts of the conflict. The conflict won't be eliminated, but it will be moderated. Ehud Shprinzak's report offers an alternative to the solution and claims that it is possible for the situation to change. The research done by Ehud Shprinzak is important because it is unique and has not been the subject of any research before him.
Policy on Minorities: The Israeli Arabs, Task Force Report
Maj. Gen. (Res) Uzi Dayan, President, Zionist Council in Israel
The Sderot conference, headed by Hanah Sued, debated the issue of society with both Arabs and Jews participating in it. After agreements and disagreements, the group put together a report on many subjects for the society.
The claim is that there is a possible procedure.
There is a need for setting up public council in order to promote basic national issues in Israel. In education the need is to promote Arab heritage and discuss possible changes in education such as the mandatory study of the Arab language in schools.
The subject at hand is basic national issue. We have a minority here which is an ethnic religious one, and cultural and it has to be recognized. Without a social agenda, the economic agenda prevents the development of any possible solution. It is a threat to the cohesion of a democratic society. There is no consensus about basic national goals and that is a big menace.
As of last year the minorities constituted 19% of the population. In the year 2020 these groups will significantly grow. We have a challenge here that a democratic state should be able to cope with.
Over time the only type of stability we want to obtain will be co-existence with the minorities in a Jewish democratic state. Arabs who are citizens of Israel should know and understand this reality.
People don't like to discuss this question, but a democratic state does not oblige its citizen to agree with the policies, but to obey the law.
The government has to implement policies that will bring about cooperation between cultural groups. Work teams and committees made up of both Jews and Arabs have to be established. This is the very last minute. Unless we do this immediately the problem will be a lot more serious.
Mr. Shouki Hatib, Chairman of the Monitoring Committee of the Israeli Arabs
After October 2000 the government was supposed to have given more funds to the Arab sector. I call that program the "program of lies". This government and all the ones before have marked the Arab society as a problem. According to Benjamin Netanyahu we are a demographic problem and a threat. According to others, we are a security problem.
When a present decision has not been put into practice, no future decision will be implemented. Our municipalities know how hard it is to survive.
Incitement against Arab sector continues. How can a minister call a minority a demographic problem? This incitement from a person who is part of the government and seeks to be become the Israeli Prime Minister is dangerous.
Our population, under every wild incitement, has always been presented as illegitimate. Our population is seeking justice and is not going to abandon that goal.
Dr. Itzhak Ravid - Adopting the Iranian and Egyptian Models
Economic and social deterioration, according to Mubarak, is having too many children. Discrimination by that government has created a sick society.
The Muslim population in Israel has a natural growth of 3.5%.
Western countries have a birth low birth rate.
The Bedouin community in the Negev is a population that is going toward catastrophe. Delivery rooms in the Soroka Hospital are overflowing.
We have here in the Middle East a region with a birth rate equal to that of African countries, and a death rate equal to that of European countries. The Minister of Finance says it is clear that a better education will prevents high birth rate. That has not been proven, but for example in Iran, there are fewer children, and better education.
It has made its accomplishments.
The Egyptian leader, Mubarak, maintains that a person should look at his income before making children, because every parent is responsible to give their children a good education. All the analogies we make to European countries are groundless. Excessive birth rate brings to poverty.
Alexander Yakobson, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
National Minorities in Israel and Abroad
The national identity of the minority is different from that of the majority. We do not belong to the same nation. We are talking about two different identities.
The first fact is that Arabs in Israel are a minority and their national identity is different from that of the Jewish majority. The state reflects it. As a result, the Arabs in Israel align themselves more with the Palestinians.
There is an important report by the U.N. that intends to secure the rights of minorities, and we should adopt it as a model. This covenant promises minorities living in a majority certain important rights.
The first Knesset had a representation of the Arab minority. Principle equalization of rights are low in Israel but should be implemented. Some people are wrongly afraid of a national minority because there is no threat to the nature of the state of Israel. It does not go against the heart of Israeli society, law of return and Jewish identity.
In terms of collective rights, language and cultural should be given to the minority, so that they have an opportunity to guard their identity. The problem exists, and there is no point in hiding it.
A nation that regards its nation as a whole is France. There are no minorities in France, and every citizen is considered French. This model has advantages and difficulties.
Alan B. Slifka, Founder & Chadirman of the Board, The Abraham Fund Initiatives
The Imperative of Institutionalizing Co-Existence in Israel
The issue of Jewish and Arabs citizens living in Israel can be handled better. The Abraham fund has conducted research and funded many events on this subject.
It is an accomplishment for Israel to have 100 institutions working together.
Co-existence is the management of diversity and occurs in areas where people can live together in peace. We have done all this work for the last 15 years but the atmosphere has declines between Jews and Arabs. The dialogues are halted. There is a growing racist sentiment in both nations. When you have 90% of Jewish schools air-conditioned and only a very small percent of Arabs schools air-conditioned, you understand the difference. .
Why has this happened? There are two major factors:
The Intifada, and the lack of government action. It is the responsibility of the government. The positive steps made by the Rabin administration have not be continued for better co-existence.
In addition there has been a lack of support for policies. We haven't developed a cohesive time plan to close the gaps.
The relationship is not positive. The Jews have been a minority for 3000 years so we don't know how to be a majority and act responsibly. We have failed in that aspect.
There is political consideration. Arab issues are not very popular in discussions.
These issues have been neglected, but can still be dealt with. The Abraham Fund has presented a platform intended to create Jewish and Arab co-existence.
You have to have somebody in charge, a minister of co-existence. It must become a positive issue, which will build something. The longer we wait the more destructive the situation becomes.
Mari Fitzduff, Brandeis University
Beyond Minorities The Future of Diversity Policies
1. 15-20% minority is not a problem about 25% is the starting point of diversity problem.
2. There's a generation gap of usually 18 years on average between start of demands sand start of violence.
3. Constitutional identity based state. Israel must take in consideration the role of minority after the resolve of Palestinian issue.
4. Must build a trust amongst minorities in the police and increase their number in law enforcement agencies.
5. Structure of school system, segregated, or combined, use of language
Discussants:
Dr. Hana Sweed, Head of the Arab Center for Alternative Planning
We must refrain from looking at demographic as a threat. As an Arab citizen I am disappointed at the level of participation available to Israeli Arabs in society and at the notion held by many in the senior leadership of the country who view the existence of the Israeli Arab population as a threat... I doubt how any progress can be made if such view are held. Defining and speaking of the actual existence of the Israeli Arabs is a potential call to violence. We are under a demagogue threat not a demographic threat.
The Palestinian and the Israeli Arabs issues are two separate questions. The Arab national minority in Israel is a challenge to the state not a threat. It should be a challenge that would lead to a society that designs a policy of equality to minorities and integrating them into the larger society.
It took a long a time until people realized that holding all territories west of Jordan under on Jewish state is impossible I hope that it won't take that much time until a way to improve the situation of the Israeli Arabs.
Mr. Dan Sheeftan, National Security Studies Center, University of Haifa
I think there's a larger issue that we are not dealing with which in my eyes is the major threat.
The problem:
The Israeli Arabs are adapting the paths of the Palestinians of rejecting any possible module of compromise and the legitimacy of the Jewish State. This causing a radicalization of the Israeli Arabs and not making it possible for moderates to voice their opinions due to fear.
The current adoption of the Palestinian could be defined by three characteristics:
1. A rejection of Israel as Jewish State
2. Voicing a public support for Israel's enemies and an acceptance of terror activities against Jews.
3. A demand for cancellation of mechanisms that will destabilize the Jewish characterizes of the state the major ones are: 1.A demand for a right of return of refuges to the 1948 lines. 2. Cancellation of the Law of Return
Tzipi Livni, Minister of Immigrant Absorption
There are some fundamental issues facing us in dealing with the Arab minority they are:
1. We are defined as Jewish state and democracy
2. The conflict is still ongoing
Despite the conflict is till continuing we need to start improving the quality of life in the territory that we will remain once peace is achieved. One of the major issues is the role of the Israeli Arabs.
The governments of Israel have neglected to provide equality in all aspects of life over the years. This current government is trying to repair, improve the results of this inequality.
In the present situation the Israeli Arabs are a group that lives outside the general stream of society. There needs to be an overall effort to for inclusion of Arabs in society not just on the government level but also on the cultural and media aspects.
There's a national clash that needs to be dealt with and is deeper than the Jewish population perceives it to be. Issues that are viewed in the Jewish aspect as private is viewed by the Arab minority sometimes as a political move. The confiscation of land for public purposes is a clear example.
The rise of violence in the conflict with the Palestinians has led to a growing identification by the Israeli Arabs with the Palestinians. I support a two state solution based on national identity. The future Palestinian state should provide the national home for all Palestinians including the Israeli Arabs. It doesn't mean they are obligated to mover there but it will be the place where there national ambitions will be fulfilled.
The Jewish public will continue to view the Israeli-Arabs as a threat if they fail to display support for a a solution
We haven't set in the last 55 years what a democratic Jewish state means. In order to solve this problem a constitution is needed. I believe that the writing and acceptance of a constitution would enable for a proper coexistence.
