Retired judge: Israel's neglected Arab youth is 'a ticking bomb'
Judge warns that if the neglect of Arab youth is not dealt with, it will become worse.
By Tomer Zarchin Tags: Israel newsThe neglect of Arab youth in Israel as a whole and in East Jerusalem in particular is "a ticking bomb from the social perspective, and if not dealt with will become worse." This unusual statement was made by Judge Awni Habash, vice president of the Jerusalem District Court who retired on Sunday after 15 years on the bench.
In a retirement interview to the bulletin of the Israel Bar Association in Jerusalem, which will be published in the near future, Judge Habash said that the neglect of Arab youth "is manifested in Jerusalem's urban fabric - especially in East Jerusalem - and throughout the country as a whole."
According to him, "There is a dearth of professional organizations for dealing with Arab youngsters and directing them toward a normative life. Also lacking are institutions for rehabilitating young Arab offenders."
Habash, who lives in Abu Ghosh and holds a doctorate in criminology, told Haaretz that the neglect of Arab youngsters is causing them to feel "there is no future, and when young people have no future time has its effect and negative elements have theirs. When young people are left to become embittered, when they are shunned and not accepted - what do you expect to happen?"
Habash warned that "the day will come when Arab youth and young people will say 'we want our place,' and the question is who will direct the flow. My fear is that it is the extremists who will direct the flow."
Habash attributed the neglect of the sector's youth to discrimination. "We know the stories about young Arabs who hebraize their names so they can get hired, and this makes me very sad," he said. "A person without an identity is a dangerous person; a person who knows what his identity is, is a person with dignity."
Speaking about how upon his retirement there will be no Arab judge in the court system in Jerusalem, Habash became angry. "There is now not a single Arab judge in Jerusalem, not in the Magistrate's Court, not in the District Court and not in the Labor Court. There is only one Arab judge, Justice Salim Joubran, in the Supreme Court," he told Haaretz and asked: "Why? There is hardly a single justice minister who came here and didn't hear from me about the need to appoint Arab judges in Jerusalem. They all said I was right - but they didn't do anything. God knows why."
When asked Monday whether the lack of Arab judges stems from racism, Habash replied: "It's insensitivity, unawareness and a lack of interest. It isn't from ill will. This makes me very sad; there are hundreds of thousands of Arabs in Jerusalem and there are good lawyers who are capable of filling the difficult and responsible position of judge. What are they worried about?"
He added that the absence of an Arab judge in Jerusalem sends a negative message to the Arab population in the capital especially, and in Israel as a whole. "I don't want an Arab judge who will represent the Arab population, just as I don't want an Ashkenazi judge who will represent the Ashkenazi public. But possibilities have to be given to all parts of the population for there to be proper representation," he explained.
"At one time the government even considered affirmative action," Habash concluded, "but ultimately nothing has been done in the Arab villages. This was a declaration, and everything has stayed the same. I hope that someone will take this into consideration."
The chairman of the Jerusalem district of the Bar Association, attorney Asher Axelrod, agrees with Habash's criticism concerning the need for appointing Arab judges. "It's important to remember that the root of the problem doesn't lie in a lack of awareness or desire, but rather in that large parts of the public of Arab lawyers aren't interested in judgeships," he says. "We are looking for willing Arab lawyers who have the appropriate qualifications."
The Courts Administration responded that for several years now presidents of the Magistrates Court in Jerusalem, as well as the court administrator and his predecessor, have worked tirelessly to find candidates from the Arab sector to serve in the Magistrates Court in the capital. "To our regret," said a spokesperson, "the few candidates who have agreed to this have not satisfactorily passed the course or the committee selecting judges."
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That is like Indian Muslims claiming "discrimination against" them in Indian policy (actually, discrimination by Indian government has consistently been IN FAVOUR for Muslims), in other words bakvas!
For 60 years the palestinians have been submitted to unbelievable horror by the zionists intent "to teach them a lesson" and this has generated a nation of several million who want to defend and avenge themselves. Indeed we understand and sympathize with them and know that they want to destroy you. And it is changing the world against you. It is your Viet-nam.
There is immense neglect in vast portions of Arab youth. I am glad he does not blame but name it. Part of the neglect is also cultural. Local authorities in charge of social workers & psychologists are ineffiencent, to say the least. Israel's government should offer more solutions independent of local authorities, eg. thro' ministry of health and-or education.
...more than 85% of the Palestinians can claim ancestry to the Hebrews that remained after Roman expulsion of the Jewish elite.These who remained in the Holy land subsequently converted to Christianity and Islam. Return WHERE ? They are already at home. Google Zvi Misinai !
They are going no where they are staying on their homes so deal with it.
How youth period are ticking bombs waiting to happen all around.Ride a bus with them or stand on curb.IT may be music impact or it may be television impact.Just think several months ago they were brain washing our youth if they played dungeons and dragons.We may have saved our youth and they still rage.What happen to our alternative music even rage music.People are People the original script was written at a pub where fries were flowing and pop drink served after a fire fight that we lost two friends.Everyone wrote a line.Why do we hate ..was a line what do you write.Speak your tongue in lyric.Speak your tongue in poem.Speak your tongue in heart and speak your tongue in love. Rankoo-Karoon
Actually their roots in Palestine are deeper than those of most Jews. The preponderant majority of Jews in Israel are either immigrants or the children of immigrants. Their right of return is certainly stronger than that of people whose ancestors left nearly two thousand years ago.
Neglect of Israeli Arab youth, disillusionment of WB Arab youth, and downright despair among Arab youth of Gaza. Israel seems to continue to cultivate a crop of Palestinian resistance against itself. You reap from what you sow.
To any of the 22 arab states where they can be amongst their own kind and won't feel like a discriminated minority. I don't think there are alot of jews in Israel who would be happy to see the back of all the arabs. Arabs living in a jewish state its a mixture that was never really going to work.
enough of the nationalistic crap, if you want to count yourselves among western democracy powers, act accordingly. yes, you have security issues most do not, but dont play both sides.
The arab youth living in Israel is a huge historical reminder to Israelis ! Where were most of israelis ancesters 100 years ago ? Where were most of palestinians ancesters 100 years ago ? You know the answer. History cannot be erased.
It's been that way for many years,just took all this years to to show it's ugly face.I know I was raised there.Maybe it's time not to have an "opinion" about the events in Iran and LEARN from them instead ?
YES, the Arab population, and especially the Arab youth, of ISRAEL is a wasted resource ! Does Israel dare to empower, to allow ALL these young people to contribute, to share ? when 1 in a 10,000 is potentially a sabateour , a bomber; and 100 times as many, potential defilers of the peace in the name of 'palestine' (note lack of capitalization) IF I was asked to decide...NO ! moshe
no doubt it's a ticking time bomb... palestinians youths, arab-israeli youths growing up under the Likud rulings is a path for disaster. Wake up Israel..more of this will be coming...
Most Israelis would agree that racism and discrimination against Israeli Arabs is a problem, though unfortunately you can't separate it from the context of Israel's ongoing conflict with the Arab world and the fact that all but 2 Arab states deny our right to exist here. But what is Europe's excuse? I love how some leftists Europeans on this forum jump to scapegoat Israel, when their relations with Arabs and Muslims in their own country are not much better. Their discrimination is also leading to a generation of alienated and angry Arab youth. 'Just not lest ye be judged.' I think a wise Jew once said that.
If you have not noticed lately how hostile arabs living in Israel are you will not be confused with this issue. Arabs living in the State of Israel are simply incompatible due to their intrinsic hatred to anything Jewish and Israeli and the are being treated accordingly. How can you trust anyone who just craves for the moment to stab you in a back. Solution is in their emmigration from Israel ASAP.
soon or later the arabic youth will catch the day. than it wont be that nice. YES SIR. I ALSO SEE THE DANGER. BUT NOT JUST IN ISRAEL
Israel presents itself to the world as a secular democracy, where people of all religions have equal rights. But in reality, it?s just a theocracy that discriminates against anyone not Jewish, especially those who follow the religion of Islam.
It is not that they FEEL they have no future, they DO have no future.
I like the way you're thinking suzy :)
and there is nothing that can be done about it because the problem is tooooooo big
I agree that in some respect, Israel's institutions do not, I repeat loud and clear, do not reflect the components of its total sum. The same grievences that the honorable Judge is puting at the steps of our leaders, do soundly resound from the Sepharadic periphery of Israel. The individual could overlook any shortcoming in his or her life by trying to struggle against obstacles to improve her/his life and that of his family and community. The neglects in some parts of the country are a such that the initiative of individuals to try and create a healthy and beautuful environment, for a quality of life, intelectually and environmentally, do not suffise when a budget to maintain such a point is missing. The excuses and biases of some Directors are as such so prejudicial for a compatibility of equal right in a supposedly LIBERAL DEMOCRACY. One is sadly tempted to advance to impression, not just an impression, that for some segment of the population, Democratic rights do exist, while in
Habash has bought into the system to the extent that he fails to see the benefits to the state in future years from a disaffected Arab youth. What then will be their excuse to maltreat the Arab population if not the uncontrollable youth? That is something every westerner would understand and sympathise with.
and that the heads of our institutions will understand that it is as much our interest as the consecrating millions and millions to variou jewish anti isreli ibstitutions and sects (hassidics and others)
you know this because you are not prepared to do anything else with Israeli Arabs. Alternatively you could actually resolve some long term issues and read the amazingly daft Rosa Parks comparison article. You have treated Arabs within your own country wih comtempt and disregard so learn some black history and resolve this issue before it's too late.
Everywhere and in every culture,race and religion...The humiliated ones hate.
Addressing the problem, not denying it - is the first step towards progress. Thank you for speaking out.
Peril is what this government needs to cultivate in order to further its agenda, part of which is to prove that "there is no partner". A tragic situation that can only be reversed if the PUBLIC gets wise to the words and looks beneath them. Why is it tragic for us Jews? you might ask. Because it will lead to disaster for the whole of Israel, and we've had enough disasters already.
On whether the occupation should continue or not, I think you have a problem.