Who needs an Arab minister?
Raleb Majadele's appointment is far from advancing the cause of a common existence of all of the country's citizens, and is based on an act of deception.
By Wadi'a Ua'daThe potential appointment of Labor MK Raleb Majadele as minister of culture, science and sport is indeed a precedent in the history of Arab politics in Israel, but it is not even the harbinger of a change in Israel's attitude vis-a-vis its Arab citizens. The context and the timing of the appointment weigh heavily on the move, and the breaking of the taboo looks more like a maneuver than a milestone in the citizenship of Israel's Arabs, and the muddy relations between them and the state.
The new ministerial position that will grant to Arab citizens, if the appointment comes to fruition, a place at the government table is no different from similar appointments of deputy ministers or Supreme Court justices. Despite the differences in circumstances, such appointments are not far from the choice of Rana Raslan as Israel's beauty queen or Sakhnin's win of the national soccer trophy three years ago.
The civil status of the Arabs was not advanced by those events, which Israel used as if they were a bouquet of fresh flowers to decorate its table of democracy before the nations of the world. It brings honor neither to the Labor Party, nor to its head, nor to the State of Israel or its Arab sector, to appoint politicians to positions that have the appearance of dominion but lack influence and are divorced from reality.
How much more so, when we are facing an embarrassing and ridiculous situation in which an Arab citizen is supposed to be taking the place of Labor MK Ophir Pines-Paz, who resigned from the government in protest of the bringing into the government of Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman. Majadele's appointment is far from advancing the cause of a common existence of all of the country's citizens, and is based on an act of deception.
The integration of the Arab citizens of Israel demands a change in the attitude of the authorities toward one-fifth of the country's population, from a paternalistic one to the recognition that they are a national minority and a national collective. This is how the Palestinian Arabs in Israel have determined, albeit very belatedly, their view of their own narrative in the document "The Future Vision," and in a series of other papers, some of which are still in the process of being written.
The current crisis testifies to the collapse of the historical Israeli project of producing "good Arabs." That mission was based on shaky foundations. The effort that was built on the illusion of the Judaization of the Arabs, or their transformation into Zionists, has culminated in bankruptcy, despite six decades of hard work.
Israel's Palestinian Arabs can only be good citizens when their civil and national rights are realized in the framework of the state, as in many countries where national minorities live. The continuation of the attitude that regards the state's non-Jewish citizens as a security risk will only harm the country, since the continuation of the process of alienation and scorn is liable to push some of the Arab citizens into undesirable realms.
The author is a reporter and commentator for the foreign Arab press
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
There is no excuse for Israel's history of discrimination against its Arab citizens. That said, however, Israel's Palestinian Arabs document "The Future Vision," which would de-Judaize Israel, is a non-starter. Consistancy for this line of reasoning demands, inter alia, that they should support the continuance of Jewish communities in Gaza, Judea and Samaria. Perhaps Israeli Palestinian Arabs should take a leaf from the French revolution's policy towards Jews? To whit, be a Palestinian Arab/Muslim at home and a non-Jewish Israeli on the street.
see Tzfonit #5. He agrees with me on the issue of "unequal treatment" of Arabs in education. I believe unlike me he is on site so therefore a credible witness.
Suggest you read the book "The other side of Israel" by Susan Nathan.Pay particular attention to pages 93/94.It certainly does nothing to convince me that Israel is doing anything to encourage those Arab/Israelis to do anything to enhance Israels image.Besides it is just an exercise in deceipt to try to stave the ever increasing and well deserved international critism of the so called Democratic State of Isarel.
The ministrys of science culture and sports should be seperate ministrys all togather not combined in to 1 combining those 3 is a crime biger than the 1 olmlet is under investigation for thus giving 3 ministrys to 1 Arab sounds bad as if Israelis are not already bad enough after Lebanon Gaza West Bank RIGHT ??? THANK YOU... M. Segal
Yacov, as a jew you can refer to the history of jews in Europe and in the Middle East to argue that Israel has good reasons to be strong and to defend its culture and its interests. But you can point to the very same events to argue that the jews and Israel have very good historic reasons to be sensitive for discrimination and violence against minorities. Your grandfathers dreamed of an Israel just and fair (thats what Amos Oz writes in his biography) demonstrating the world how to integrate a minority. So far you have shown that your able to defend your self efficiently, that you are treatig arabs better than jews have been and are treated in Europe (I am not speaking about the Shoah) you still have much work to do.
Dear Yacov, there was a time in Germany where you were just considered to be german if your parents were of german christian origin. It took a long time till this attitude changed and still a lot have to be done. Nevertheless, much has been achieved so far. Your religion, your culture and your political oppinions don't decide anymore about your german citizenship. There are german citizens who are moslems and jews, who are of arab, asian, turkey or polish origin. They are not good citizens because they support the view of the christian mayority, but because they take part in this society in accordance to their rules and values. Arab Israelis are Israelis, so their first interest is in Israel. Citizenship demands in no way to critize the political system of foreign countries. Citizenship demand the same rights and duties for each citizen. If their not alloud to live with their family from West bank in Israel, they are deprived from an essentiel right.
Is the Author out of his mind? The Quran is based on Torah which specifically relates G-ds giving of the land to Israel. But even from a secular viewpoint Arabs can be zionists: Simply by recignizing that the Ishmaelites indeed became a greate nation with now 22 countries!! So maybe their Jewish cousins chould be allowed to have ONE??? I have actually met a few such Arabs. If the author is right though, he his pointing people in the direction of Israel Beiteinu and Kahane Chai. No state nowhere can have a large minority who primarily identifies and is loyal to the states enemies, even less so if these enemies are its closest neighbours. Me personally believe that the author is wrong or that at least that the matter is not yet settled. And that an Arab minister is actually a good thing for Jews and Arabs alike. AIC
Your question: What are these Israeli Arabs doing to counter the rampant Arab Moslem racism, hatred and bigotry against Jews in the Arab nations? My answer: They are doing nothing, nad they need not do anything, because treatment of Jews in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, the Emirates, or Libya is not their responsibility. Their responsibility is to be loyal and productive citizens of Israel. Any flaws in treatment of Israeli Arabs should not be justified by how Arab countries that are not democracies treat Jews.
Israeli Arabs have national and civil rights in the framework of the state, and for the most part, they are good citizens. It seems that in an attempt to downplay this important appointment, Wadi'a Ua'da has deemed it to be merely a maneuver, with convoluted objectives. The appointment should be welcomed as proof of Israel's true democratic nature, and of its efforts to ensure representation of the Arab minority. One of the most urgent issues that Majadele can deal with is improving the educational system in the Arab sector, a system that is equal to the Jewish one on paper, but on the ground is sadly inferior. One thing is certain. As long as Yisrael Beiteinu is in the government, any moves to ensure Arab citizens' representation such as appointing an Arab minister appear more than a little hypocritical. It's time we rid ourselves of this embarassment.
If we "enjoyed representation" then why the noise about the "1st Arab minister"? It should have been no big deal. You live in a dream world if you think we have equal rights. Come visit our schools. Come see the environmental racism our communities put up with. We certainly do not have police protection. Your arguments about other Arab countries have nothing to do with the issue of racism in Israel. The countries you mention are not democracies. And also, since it is illegal for us to even visit those countries, how can we "DO" anything? Let me also set you straight on something else. Not all Arab Israelis are Moslem. And believe me, we help you by paying the highest taxes in the world...a greater proportion of which go to you!
Israel's Arabs have enjoyed full citizenship, voting rights, representation, health and other benefits in Israel. Israel's Jews are not even allowed to step foot in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, the Emirates, Libya. Israel's Arabs continuously whine, cry and complain that they are not given special, much less equal treatment. What are these Israeli Arabs doing to counter the rampant Arab Moslem racism, hatred and bigotry against Jews in the Arab nations?
Israel has a responsibity, even a duty, to advance the status of Israeli Arabs. This is the only way to convince them that they are safe in Israel and that they are part of the nation of Israel. Doing otherwise will only elianate them further and push them into the welcoming arms of a Hamas type organization