Declaration of Independence Guarantees ‘Full and Equal Citizenship’

The current state of the complex relationship between Israel and its Arab population can only be fully understood through the lens of history. Although Jews have always maintained a presence in the Holy Land since the destruction of the Second Temple (70 CE), Christian and Muslim Arabs have also lived in the region for hundreds and hundreds of years. In fact, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, was built on the ruins of the Jewish Temple following the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in the seventh century.

However, for these non-Jewish residents, the concept of a national “Palestinian” identity did not exist.

To quote Faiz El-Khouri, the first Syrian representative to the United Nations (1947):

I think most of you, if not all, know that Palestine used to be a Syrian province. Geographical, historical, racial and religious links exist there. There is no distinction whatever between the Palestinians and the Syrians and, had it not been for the Balfour Declaration and the terms of the [British] mandate, Palestine would now be a Syrian province, as it used to be.”

In the wake of the Second World War and the horrors of the Holocaust, Jewish immigration to Mandatory Palestine soared. In 1948, on the eve of Israel’s independence, the then-British-administered territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River was home to some 630,000 Jews, in addition to over one million Arabs.

A year earlier, the United Nations had voted to partition Mandatory Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states and establish Jerusalem as an international city under UN auspices. Jewish leaders accepted the proposal, but the Arab Higher Committee rejected all compromises. This was followed by attacks on Jewish communities and neighborhoods.

As British forces left in May 1948, David Ben-Gurion officially proclaimed the creation of the State of Israel, prompting Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq to invade the new Jewish state. What followed was the deadliest war in Israel’s modern history, which formally ended with a series of armistice agreements in 1949.

By the end of the conflict, there were some 160,000 Arabs residents in Israel. Historian Benny Morris later noted that Ben-Gurion had no “a priori intention to expel the Arabs, and during the war there was no policy of expulsion.” Nevertheless, many left their homes — either responding to Arab leaders’ calls or to protect themselves from advancing armies. In some cases, Arabs were forcibly displaced by Jewish fighters.

Nevertheless, Israel’s Declaration of Independence called upon “the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel… [to] participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions.” Ben-Gurion’s appeal echoed statements from earlier Zionists like Ze’ev Jabotinsky, who is quoted as saying that the territory of “Eretz Yisrael [the Land of Israel]” is suitable for “a million Arabs, for a million of their descendants, for several million Jews – as well as for peace.”

Arab Success Stories in Israel Abound

Today, there are 1,956,000 Arabs in Israel, accounting for 21.1 percent of the total population. While Israel, like every democracy, has its shortcomings and challenges, it is reasonable to say that the vision of Israel’s founding fathers has been actualized. For instance, members of the Arab minority hold posts in all branches of government — from the Knesset to the Supreme Court — as well as influential positions in the spheres of culture, media, sports, etc…

One does not need to search long before finding recent examples of Arab Israeli success stories. In June, Ra’am (United Arab List) leader Mansour Abbas made history as his Islamist party signed a coalition deal to sit in the government. Barely a month later, Intel Israel appointed its first Arab Israeli vice president.

Arab Israelis also played a significant role in the successful capture of Palestinian terrorists who escaped from Israeli prison in September. According to police sources, “dozens of Arabs” phoned in sightings of the dangerous fugitives, eventually leading to their arrest. “Everywhere they turned, Arab citizens refused them and called police,” Public Security Minister Omer Barlev commented at the time. “Much respect to all the responsible citizens!”

However, Israel’s social cohesion can be fragile. During May’s 11-day Hamas-initiated conflict, Arab rioters carried out what have been described as “pogroms” in Lod, Acre, Jaffa, Haifa and other so-called mixed communities. Jews also targeted Arabs in several attacks. But in a move that showcased overriding Arab-Jewish cooperation, Mansour Abbas subsequently vowed that Arab Israelis would “lead” efforts to repair synagogues damaged in the violence.

Despite intermittent, albeit not particularly unique, difficulties, most Arabs in Israel view themselves as members of society. While this might not fit the malicious narrative of Israel being an “apartheid” state, the facts speak for themselves.

Actually, Israel’s Arabs have spoken for themselves — and the media should be responsible enough to listen to them and report accordingly.