Arabs in Israel | The American Task Force on Palestine

On My Mind: American Jews and Israeli Arabs
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Kenneth Bandler - (Opinion) August 10, 2011 - 12:00am

Encouraging American Jewish interest in the 20 percent of Israeli citizens who are not Jewish has been a longstanding challenge. For a long time learning about the history and concerns of the Arab minority visiting their communities, or engaging with their representatives who come to the United States on speaking tours, was relegated to a very low priority, often barely on the radar.

Putting up a big tent in Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Dov Waxman - (Opinion) August 10, 2011 - 12:00am

When Knesset members from Israel's three largest parties (Kadima, Likud, and Yisrael Beiteinu) announced last week that they were planning to introduce a bill that would officially redefine Israel from being a Jewish and democratic state to simply being "the national home for the Jewish people" -- dropping the democratic aspect altogether -- and end Arabic's status as an official language in Israel, the news was another depressing confirmation of the erosion of Israeli democracy.

Israel's Arab citizens must join the social struggle
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Oudeh Basharat - (Opinion) August 8, 2011 - 12:00am

In days gone by there were long lines of cars at the gas stations on the eve of a rise in prices. The late comedian Dudu Topaz ridiculed the Israeli citizen who "puts one over" on the state by stocking up before the price increase, opportunistic individualism was at its zenith, and people used elbows energetically to obtain yet one more cheap liter of fuel.

Where do Palestnians figure in the Israeli cry for 'social justice'?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Mira Sucharov - (Blog) August 8, 2011 - 12:00am

With the four-week old Israeli cost-of-living tent protests swelling in intensity -- capped by 300,000 demonstrators taking to the streets on Saturday night - I am fascinated by the fact that the term “social justice” has become a household word. The official slogan of the demonstrations -- “The nation demands social justice!” (Ha’Am doresh tzedek chevrati!) - involves the headiest and most ethereal of concepts. But commentators have been rightly asking whether the use of the term “social justice” is deserved.

Lawmakers seek to drop Arabic as one of Israel's official languages
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Jonathan Lis - August 4, 2011 - 12:00am

Forty lawmakers from both the coalition and opposition Wednesday submitted a proposal to the Knesset for a new Basic Law that would change the accepted definition of Israel as a "Jewish and democratic state." The bill, initiated by MKs Avi Dichter (Kadima ), Zeev Elkin (Likud ) and David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu), and supported by 20 of the 28 Kadima MKs, would make democratic rule subservient to the state's definition as "the national home for the Jewish people." The legislation, a private member's bill, won support from Labor, Atzamaut, Yisrael Beiteinu and National Union lawmakers.

Israeli courts must end anti-Arab discrimination
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Editorial) August 3, 2011 - 12:00am

Israeli courts discriminate against Israeli Arabs. If there had been any doubt left about this, a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind study commissioned by Israel's Courts Administration and the Israel Bar Association just determined it decisively.

ISRAEL: Arabic radio station campaigns against killing of women
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Batsheva Sobelman - July 25, 2011 - 12:00am

A young woman turns up dead. Her husband is held for a few days, then released. Police have no other suspects. Murmurs of "family honor" are heard -- and the news races on, reluctant to deal with a painful issue: the killing of women in Arab society. Until now.

Are women's rights on the Arab agenda?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Jack Khoury - July 18, 2011 - 12:00am

Arab Israeli filmmaker Ibtisam Mara'ana spent Sunday going from one forum to another, giving extensive interviews about the murder of Maya Fares-Najm, whose body was found Friday in an open lot in Har Halutz in western Galilee. Mara'ana, a personal acquaintance of Maya, been acquainted with the family for several years and is close to Maya's sister, model Angelina Fares. Fares appeared in a film Mara'ana directed about the struggle against traditional society, after the model decided to enter the competition for Israel's beauty queen.

The other Jerusalem march
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Editorial) July 15, 2011 - 12:00am

On Jerusalem Day last month, tens of thousands of youngsters active in the religious Zionist movement marched from the city's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood to the Western Wall Plaza in what is known as the Flag Parade. Some turned the march into a frightening demonstration of nationalism, racism and violence. Today, this route will be followed in reverse by another march that is the opposite of the rightists' march. Instead of calling for death (to the Arabs ), it will raise a joint cry for life - for an end to the occupation and recognition of Palestinian independence.

Islamic Movement leader in Israel arrested in London
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
June 29, 2011 - 12:00am

Sheikh Raed Salah, the head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel has been arrested in London, his lawyer told Xinhua early Wednesday. According to Zahi Nugedat, the lawyer, London Police arrested Salah overnight Tuesday after a warrant for his deportation was issued. Salah had given a lecture in Leicester and was due to deliver another address as a guest of the Palestinian British solidarity.

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