The mixed city of Acre in northern Israel Photo credit: Gil Eliyahu / JINI. Recent polls suggest the overwhelming majority of Israeli Arabs prefer peaceful coexistence over any form of violence • Steps must be taken to make the most out of this momentum.
Prof Amnon Rubinstein – Winds of change in the Arab sector
Israel HaYom
The case of Nashat Milhem, who after carrying out the Jan. 1 shooting in Tel Aviv found refuge in the northern Arab town of Arara, is frightening and disconcerting, but we cannot allow it to distract us from the shift taking place among the majority of Israeli Arabs.
A recent survey by the Pew Research Center reviewed how local populations across the Middle East relate to the Islamic State group. Lebanon, which is under the jihadi group’s direct threat, topped the list in its opposition. Israel’s Muslim community came in second with an overwhelming 97% of participants saying they oppose the group, and only 1% saying they were sympathizers.
The Pew survey made an interesting comparison between Muslims inside Israel and those in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip, where 6% of participants expressed support for Islamic State and 84% opposed it. The difference between the Muslims in Israel and those in Judea and Samaria is dramatic, indicating that there is more to this than a standard statistical deviation, much more.
Like many other polls conducted in Israel, this one indicates that a serious shift is taking place among much of the Arab public in Israel, one that is not reflected by Arab MKs. True, even 1% of Islamic State supporters, which translates to 15,000 people, could wreak havoc on Israel given the chance, but one cannot ignore the significant gap between Israeli Arabs and Palestinians. This suggests that on the one hand, there is a potentially bright future for Jewish-Arab relations inside the State of Israel, while on the other hand there is a potentially bleak future for Jewish-Arab relations in Greater Israel.
I believe the shift among Israeli Arabs stems from their deep disappointment from the Arab world and their slow, hesitant integration in Israeli society and economy. For the first time in years, the heads of Arab local authorities have voiced their unequivocal support for cooperating with Israel and the Jews, and have urged their publics to abandon the paths of conflict.
An article published by the financial daily The Marker in September quoted Talal Al-Krenawi, mayor of the southern Bedouin town of Rahat, as saying, “I propose we change the conversation between us. Let’s base it on shared successes, not tragedies. In other words, let’s actually coexist instead of focus on threats. … In Rahat itself we have several successful projects that illustrate our ability to succeed in building a mixed society, Jewish and Arab, which not only lives together, but works together and thrives together.”
In October, at the height of the “stabbing intifada,” Nazareth Mayor Ali Salam leveled scathing criticism at Joint Arab List MKs, telling Israel Hayom, “The truth is, there is no other option but to live together. Do you know another way? Coexistence is the only [option], in Israel — between Jews and Israeli Arabs, living side by side, in equality. And between Israel and the Palestinians — two states for two peoples.
“I am angry with them [the Arab MKs]. It’s terrible, how they don’t really care about the Arab public … they set the ground on fire and leave us to deal with the flames.”
Salam later said, “I’m a Palestinian Israeli. We are originally Palestinian and we’re Israeli citizens. I have no problem living in peace in a state with a Jewish majority, and I’m telling you that 99% of the Arabs are like me. This is my country and I’ve never thought ill of Israel. It doesn’t mean I’m not upset about what’s happening with the Palestinians … but we can’t allow extremists on either side to set the country on fire.”
The government’s recent decision to allocate significant funds to the Arab sector’s development will, if carried out as planned, boost this shift, and Jewish-Arab initiatives in the fields of joint education and industry will bolster it on the ground.
In last week’s Israel Hayom weekend magazine, former national security adviser and military intelligence research head Yaakov Amidror explained that “over the past four months, only three Israeli Arabs have committed acts of terror. Out of 1.5 million people, two used knives and one used a gun. That is truly a drop in the bucket.
“Israel must find a way to leverage the situation and ensure Israeli Arabs make the most of what a democracy like Israel, a nation of law and order, can offer its citizens. The fact that Israeli Arabs have not joined the cycle of violence is another indication of their successful integration in society, and this process must be supported and accelerated.”
How can we accelerate this process? I suggest the following:
First, a visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Nazareth. Symbolic acts can go a long way.
Second, mixed cities must learn from the successful reality in Jaffa, and take steps in the direction of joint bilingual studies.
Third, the Education Ministry must outline the curriculum for these joint bilingual studies. While we are currently focusing on a handful of mixed cities, projected population growth indicates that in the future, most Israeli cities will be mixed cities. Therefore, the Education Ministry must eliminate the separate school registrations for Jews and Arabs.
Fourth, the most productive coexistence efforts are the ones devoid any ideological or political debate. Such joint efforts should include teaching in kindergartens and lower elementary school grades, artistic activities, and government-sponsored business initiatives. In contrast, joint meetings between high school students often result in friction and conflict.
Another step should address the growing demand within the Arab sector to perform voluntary national service. It is very important that this service takes place in mixed settings, allowing Jews and Arabs to interact on a daily basis.
Measures should also be taken to expand the jurisdiction of the local Arab authorities. This will both right a wrong and serve as a vehicle for their development.
Also, the Council for Higher Education’s Planning and Budgeting Committee must support Israeli-Arab colleges and promote sought-after disciplines. There is no reason for thousands of Arabs to pursue higher education in Jordanian universities.
While the skeptics will question whether these steps could prove effective, they serve the clear interest of coexistence. Without improving the level of education in Arab schools, Israel will be unable to perform better in international rankings; without an increase in Arab employment, we will be unable to increase the gross national product per capita; and without a policy of coexistence, we could end up with a policy of co-death.
Prof Amnon Rubinstein – Winds of change in the Arab sector
