and Israeli Arabs Jews:
Dispelling Myths, the Narrowing Gaps the
Rubinstein By Amnon
Among
vociferous the directed neither ic-,,ded against Israel, that accusations is
at ,.,he
is
charge the of occupation Bank Palestinians of the that its the. West its
treatment nor
jewish the
indictment, This which reaci.ed Arab mistreats its citizens. its
state own
Racism
peak UN-sponsored infamous the against Durban Conference 2001, ia in
at
habitually
•peated and from accusatipns of anti-Arab discrimination
ranges rampant
widespread "apartheid
•:ol:&.mnation of Israd these
state." So accusations
to as an are
that for become fi,ev have self-evidcne truism.
some a
study The o•-d:i• the ath of this
is
examine truism.. purpose to t,
Arabs Gaps and between Jews Israel inside
military equal political rights, exempted
Arabs Israel enjoy from but .in service.
are
dm•munities budgetary
suffer from Their allocations, lower capita lower per
average
public
and lower of
participation all, Above there of incomea, life.
is in
rate a a sense
total animosity, if between the
communities. estrangement, not two
•}disputable,
These national effort and would require tremendous it
gaps
are a
abolish
them. take minority that consideratio,.9 thia identi- One that is into
to
must
a
ti•e
populatioii
belongs fies hostile with that surrounds Israel. and majority Arab
to
i•unched especially Indeed, campaign Arafat his
in since Yasir
years,
recent terror
against Israel Arab opportunity have missed members of
2000, in Knesset
to some no
denounce the Israel. of existence
very
significant generally despite that, and the unknown fact rela- worsening But is
degree, large
the between Arabs and Jews tions, Israel inherited from
in
gaps
to
are, a
Mandatory importantly, Palestine; British under Israeli the sovereignty
gaps more
regard
been certainly narrowing dramatic have with T!,.is in is
very way. trae two to a
all-important indicators health e&•,cation. and
Differences between M-ashm" and Arabs C!Iristian
distinguish examining these between Arabs and Christian In Muslim
gaps,
must we
significant Arabs. Christians small but l•rm minority within Israel--2 of
percent
a
population. population, Israel's Arab of minority facts about this
Two its 9
percent are
generally only unknown: all Middle First, Israel the has countries, Eastern among
Dispelling Myths, IsraeliArabs and Narrowing Gaps the the Jews: 2
Secondly, Christian community community that this has growing numbers. is in
notched of impressive advances the of education and health the
in
any most areas
within Israel. group
Following Independence particularly devastating
of the Israeli which War
was a
villages induding experience Galilee, for and the the Christian of land confiscation
deportation--the population plummeted, reacl•ing Christian the in
country meager
a
to*:aling steadily 34,000 then, increased, have 1960. their numbers However, in since
by They only the the Middle have community Christian ,000 East 2000. in l 1
to are
numerically--though post-World period. roportionally--in
the War II grown
not p
of of Christians Jews Of the proportion Christians Muslims and in
to to course,
kept pace.because
Muslims, Israel has and Christians have lower birth than
not
rate a
significant have had the immigration,
Jews. have the and 1967 2001, Between
as no
compared by population
Israeli with Christian increased
1.8 as percent per annum,
comprised of 4.4 the Muslims. Whereas for Christians 21
percent percent per annum
population they today. '50s, the Arab the less than
in 10 percent are
Paradoxically, family factor--small size--that has reduced their the
very same
extraordinary general population responsible proportion been of the for the has
example, mortality achievements this Christian of minority. the infant For
among rate
compared period
births, Arabs with 4.9 the thousand Israel 1996-99 in in
per as
was
mortality
this Muslims 4.8 the infant Jews. and 9.5 Over in
among among years,
steadily the community has declined. of the lowest
By recorded in 2001, it
ratm
one
world
thousand--the Scandinavia and Japan. 2.6
per
same as
higher straight education,
the reahn of head of class., Christians the the In
to go
They
(for attend the those university thousand of born the in
323 per ),'ears at rate
compared 1965-69)
national with thousand Muslim and for and
Druze 108
per as a
thousand. of 131
average
per
living Although they Israel, Arabs comprise Christian Arabs of all in 9 percent
higher
force, of partic- the Arab work due the that of
represent quarter rate to more a
ipation While the work reliable data of individ- force. there their in
women are no on
ranking villages ual
the Christian of
economic economic is in
strong, status,
contrast
villages.
villages Mi'ilya example, Jish other rural Arab the Christian of and For
to
are
village
place Jewish scale, kaad, ranked of similar and the sixth
in
one-to-ten to
on a
are place, generally villages Jewish like rural fourth ranked Safed. Muslim Fasouta is in
place, lowest the tenth. in
they
These that refute data of for the
First, interest
argument two reasons: are
essentially Israel
Arab the that and racist is it its citizens it is in
treats way an
"apartheid" allegations deprivation These data do refute of discrimination
state. not
or
budgetary underrepresen-
they speak authorities, allocations local do the in
to to nor
Di•erentials andJe•os Arabs 3 Educational between
they governmental public, indicate of Arabs bodies. commercial, and But tation in
family authorities bear that other factors such and the decisions of the local size as
responsibility
the Arabs of the for Israel. between and Jews in
gaps some
Israel Educational Differentials between Arabs Jews and in
impossible speak
of the without educational between Arabs and Jews It is
to. gaps con-
sidering Israel. of of inherited the educational the establishment the State
system at
disparities bridged eighth
statistical overnight. These and last The
year not are
published provides by Mandatory 1945 book the British Palestine in in
government a
glimpse beginning of
between the that Arabs the Muslim jews existed and
gaps at at
the state:
•chooLin
th•a'e
Mandatory attending 1943-44 204,000 children In 1. were
Jewish students, Palestine--some •krab students and 105,000 100,000 some
attending
school The children of whom of
Christian.
percentage most
were
but Christians, the and the Jews that 90 100
percent percent year among to was
only the Muslims. 35 percent among
explains Mandatory by Turkish- book under
The that noting the 2. gap year
public the
rule, and under Muslims relied the school Ottoman
system,
on
Mandate, the had the been able of efforts spite "in its since
government
not
public occupation], demand for occupation [i.e., the the British
to meet
schooling."
explanation period of attendance second from the book: "The
A 3.
average
year
Jewish Muslims] [among school than the Christian shorter and is
among at
villages, girls Muslim demand education Further the for of communities in
though relatively villages, the inhabi- increasing, been small has all the In
schooling
boys wish for first." the
tants to secure
studying
children 4. The book's of Arab of the in estimate
percentage year gov-
boys (public) schools the of and
60 cities, in 85
percent
percent ernment was:
villages, girls; girls. boys the and of of 60 of In
in 7 percent percent
non-
governmental
schools, the end of Muslim the lower. At estimates
are even
population only 1943-44,
million, Arab
total Arab of 958
stu• among
over a a
girls--were high July 1943, dents school. enrolled of whom In in 190
were
governmental passed Hebrew, 47 students matriculation the 160 78 in
exams:
higher learning? English. Arabic,
and There Arab of 35 institution in in
was no
extremely
fact, Israel did of weak educational This portrait But, is in
system. an a
statehood, beginning
of this much of Arab school network the inherit
not at even an
Myths, Dispelling Gaps Na,rowing Arabs and the the 4 Israeli Jews:
intelligentsia forced leave--dur- because fled the urban the Arab
country--or
to were
Independence.
"scorched possession of ing 1948-49 the of Israel into War
a came
emptied teachers an.d both
education, earth" the Muslim Arab field of of
its in
area a
students. its
educational Today
have been made of the gains Enormous
in system. every sector
naturally, educational conditions Israelis, the do their schools either
compare to not
neighboring prevailed sig- during period Arab that the those of Mandate But
states.
or
nificantly, Jewish Arab, only advanced educational and the the have both
systems, not
drastically. rapidly, but the between them have narrowed
gaps
elementary period Jewish Mandatory students the the the Arab of In
ratio
at to
girls.
and boys gap Arab school and for the between level for 1:15 In 1:3 2001
was
•the
Jewish four- six-to-thirteen than .At enrollment the less in 1
percent, group age
was
teen,to-•seventeen
The
level, and the between Arabs Jews 17 percent.
gap age was
Jewish biggest girls:
Arab and with The between revolution has been
respect gap to
girls high only point And there the school level in is
in 10 200.1.
percent
at no was
higher level education of Arab Muslim students comparing in the the
percentages on
virtually
during Mandatory today, such Mandate the
there and because times
no were
students the
community. Muslim in
Under budgetary despite Arab Thus, ag:•inst rule, real discrimination Israeli
mid-'90s, eliminated, the educational schools that existed the when until
it gap
was
the remarkable This due narrowing between and has been
Jews Muslims is
to rate. at a
the and because establishment modern educational the Arab of in
sector, system a
learning, population,
thirst the rural for has
grown. among even
Ethnic-Religious Comparison Gaps Israel of in
and Europe in
ethnic-religious Israel These further elucidation. The require exists, in statistics gap
compared and chil- but children of immigrants small when with the between is gap
dren of the native-born Europe. in
ofinamigrants' Thus,
university children 4 Franc.e'a in
percent m go com- as mere
pared according the population, of of the with the in
25
report percent
to
rest
a
(November 2002). immigrants about half the London France in Since 22, Economist
immigrants'
children proportion Muslim, deduce that Muslim of could the
are one
attending
of follows that the be less that 4 university
ratio It in France percent.
must
than the indicat- university Muslim French students less 1:6 nonimmigrant ratio is
to
by despite ethnic-religious conflicts Israel, ed the the bitter By comparison, Economist.
Jewish of
Arab admissions that Israeli boast of exist, universities ratio 3:1
to to
can a
(or less) half the the French data. in gap
prides especially being striking
comparison itself This because is France
a on
shining religion republic rights, equality of all of irrespective model of of citizens, its
a
portrayed often defines Israel, and itself the model of which opposite it is
race; to
as
accepted Jewish
Furthermore, free university admission all those in is
state. as to a
why
university
there such of education So France. is in in attainment
gap coun- a a a
belongs
that all
its citizens?
try to
and
Similarly,
and which advocates multiculturalism has advanced Britain, in
an
The well-integrated
the the results educational results of much better.
system,
not are
Cambridge eeported by by sixteen-year-olds (GCSE) School
General taken Exam
were
ethriic origin students of Indian the the Students of ori- Caucasian in 2001
or census.
gin 45 had of Students from Muslim 59
percent percer•t to rate
two coun- a success.
B•ingladesh, only.a (The Pakistan for and had of tries,
22
percent rate rates success.
higher gifts separately
differences based taken for ethnic both but the
groups, were on
similar.) origin
were
yield (the exams) needed A-level The for university admission Britain in
exams
According Birmingham, only
differentials. data from
1991 5
percent to
to even worse
Bangladeshi passed of students of Pakistani matriculation origin these
7 percent
or
by (matric- Israel, passing Bagrut Jews the of Muslims the In ratio
contrast,
to exa•i.,s.
uiation)
Israel, 4:5.
Of within Muslim Arabs the is native minor-
course, •.xams are a
they ity, Israel the immigrant while and
Britain in France communities. Yet in
gap
are
has been been narrowing impressive
while and there has
Britain France in
at rate, an
progress. no
Mortality
Comparison of Expectani. and Infant Hfe Rates
T
for and Israeli Arabs Jews
mortality Mandatory The 1943-44, infant for which Palestine the last in in
year rate
Mandatory (from above), such data available book cited almost the 10
year were was
Christians, Thus Muslims, for for the Arab and Jews. for 3.5 7 percent percent percent
infant Muslim death for of Jews half that of Christians and one-third that
rate was
shocking: Mortality
Arabs.
children the of five for 21
up rates age to wele even more
Muslims,
4.5 Christians, Arab and 10 percent percent
among among among percent
Jews.
mortality dropped dramatically Israel, of the have the establishment In since
rates
Jewish significantly and between the and Arab have the
state, gaps sectors even more
mortality declined.
the infant 0.41 Jews In
2001,
percent, among rate among
was
Muslims, Christians, and Thus the between 0.82 0.2 percent. percent, gap among
by third, Jews and and Muslims narrowed the between and Arab Christians Jews
gap a
eliminated. was
Dispelling Myths, Gaps Narrowing Arabs and the 6Israeli the Jews:
mortality
children dramatic the child for narrowing
Even in
gap rates, more was
Jewish five, between and from shock- Arab Israelis. The sank Muslim
up age rate to a
high
ingly 1944 Muslim the between and 2001, in in 0.5 21
percent percent gap to
period. Jewish double, and shrunk five that from times in
to rates
public--and general unprecedented progress--unbeknownst the This it is
to
allegations against that refutes of from the noting Israel. worth the it is
scant
some
mortality hardly
child information the bot- Europe, have Israel
about is in
at we rates
of Furthermore, European Israeli the list. of with those statistics
compare to tom a
significant population, reported by
Arab Paolo with Bollini and France,
in
country
a as
Organization Harald of for
Migration, the International for the stillborn Siem
rate
infants French of North origin thousand, whereas for Arab infants born 8.0
to per was
mortality perinatal
African immigrants 3t.0 thousand. The 6.0 it
per rates
was were
respectively. thousand, thousand and 14.8 2
per
per
general, disparity mortality minority majority infant the and between In in rates
populations donflict and w:',,•en the when there national is
is even greater--even
no
populations Jewish affluent--than Israel. that between Arab and within In is
country
mortality minority the Switzerland infant for and the Turkish majority the Swiss rates
respectively. the thousand differential and between the Britain 8.2 In 12.3
per
are
respectively. English majority and thousand and Pakistani The minority 15.6 7.8 is
per
according
highest
where for States, the the United the is in
gap, report,
rate
to same
figures
(All relate thousand, for blacks the white majority while 8.5 it is is 21.3. to per
2000.) the
year
enjoyed by generally high share the all life Israeli Arabs
in expectancy rates
constantly.
1980-84,
Israelis. the the there narrowing Here, is For
too, gap years
was a
between differential reduced 2.3-year the this communities;
in 2.1 1995-99
to two
was
compared Thus, 74.4 male had life with of Jews 76.5
expectancy years. years
years
a
longer non-Jewish
be, Israeli for Surprising enjoy males. Israeli Arab males it
may as a
according Organization males; World life than Health European
expectancy
most to
data, the Israeli Arab Europe life The 69.6 in
2000, in
expectancy
average years.
was,
figure 74.4-year male,
Germany,, with close the
for
expectancy to average, very a was
74.9 and the for 75.6 U.K., years, years.
Implications
background, Against that this the lives of all improving Israel's record its it in
seems
especially wealthy than the impressive, that less given the citizens is is country
compared
national European
which and that of nations isin it it
to state severe
was a
populations. afar, Indeed, between the conflict minority the viewed from majority ap_d
the the animosity and between and Muslims Jews countries in
gaps many one can see
Conclusions 7
shrinking, besieged they despite the the island of growing, while within Israel
are
lengthy hostility. ongoing conflict and
long-term implications: effbrt Israel make incumbent
This has It is
every up.•n to
nnderrepresentatidn
public
discrepancies budgetary all of eliminate all and in
to cases
general, and Jews between society of and bodies between Israeli in various sectors
particular. Arabs in
abroad, widely, and when Israel criticized both home is At time
at an_ as a
shrinking apartheid health education and
pointing wor.th the in it is
gaps state, out
paradoxical complex while
.reality. the truth that that indicate The is
years over more a
particularly political polarization because Israel has Arabs and between Jews in grown,
narrowed, least Palestinians, the social of the latest with the have
gap,s at meas- as war
by of Israel vehement indices of health and education. the ured cri•i•: Even
moat can-
data. ignore this not
Conclusions
Mandatory Palestine from British has that Israel inherited This demonstrated paper
regard and edu- Arabs, health tremendous between and Jews both with inequities
to
by protected JewJ_sh the worker, The and other social and factors. cation economic
employing preferentially by ideology of Jewish clout the of a,•-d the labor Zionist pow-
generally
Arab his erful Histadrut labor earned much
union, twice
counterpaat. as as
differential between the
that
the
has decreased the This
gap
wage years over so now
employees Jewish
and between in salaries and Arab of
35 is 20 percent percent mean
bit,
widened have Jews. favor of the While the ethnic income in
gaps years, recent a
goods
living by of durable consumption differential standard of the the measured in
as
telephones today ownership example, been of have inequities has narrowed. all For in
disparity phones equal of but eliminated; Jews Arabs and This income
at rate. own an
explained by goods near-equality of the welfare the role consumption of be in
state can
larger do
welfare than Israel. share of the transfer
Arabs much receive in
payments or a
Jewish their
cour•terparts.
of place despite
the narrowing This of the has taken existence two gaps process
received
lower Arab schools
mid-1990s of discrimination: Until tb,
per overt types e
budget institutionalized scandalous allocations for bodies. This their student capita
sphere of health the abolished the administration. discrimination under Rabin In was
especially under children, without Arabs, and Arab insurance; services,
many were
passed, total insisting
Rabin's national health law insurance
upon government
was a
legislative will fur- widely
these
all assumed that equity It is
steps two among sectors.
existing ther reduce between Arabs and Jews.
gaps
the will equity Of further toward require assistance
part progress course, some on
Dispelling Myths, Gaps Narrowing the the Israeli Arabs and Jews: 8
withdrawing notably, by pupils before the of Israeli Arabs themselves--most their
not
sending completion high by early school; childhood and kinder-
of children more
to
by (the
lat- close blood relatives preventing in-marriage and
garten programs; among
higher being
Muslims). mortality the infant of Arab primary the
among ter rate cause
implementing involving governmental policy total joint both effort will be needed A
a
v•ithin bttdgetary equality changing latter The and the Muslim communities.
norms
especially highest of
the Negev, Bedouins needed of the who exhibit the is rate among
highest education, combined underachievement wi•b• the birthrate; in
Equality hostility of n•tionalisms for and conflict Israel because the vital is
"•d-Aqsa by between the the so-called have been exacerbated communities
two
•'eciprocal figures quoted and Intifada." above, fears representing Behind the
progress
feelings often
play of Jews animosity mutual and frustration Israeli in
ways. many out
regard listening with the Arab growing the Arab community anxiety, and Knesset
to
enemy'' they See delive• direct threats members who "the Israel's national existence,
to
example, July Talab themselves the and minority. menaced MK view For in 2001
as
proclamatio.q party) (of of the AI-Sana the United Arab issued List reminiscent
noto-
a
Assembly racial of and ("Zionism General form Resolution rious UN racism is 3379
a
subsequently ,member discrimination") revoked. This of November which
1975, was
that stated of and colonialist" that "in and Zionism Knesset is its racist
very essence
English "just dis- land of Israel such will vanish from the Turks and the the racism
as
appeared."
plentiful of about grievances hand, their the other share Israeli Arabs have On
economically, by perpetrated They Jewish injustices suffer against them the
are state.
employment, underrepresented of the allocation against discriminated and in in
are
governmental public
this participation and and bodies. To in in
overcome resources
preferential discriminatory calling history, for has enacted laws the Knesset
treat- two
governmental
Arabs the of of civil and boards of directors
service in
corpo- ment
on
rations.
Clearly, Israel and mutual hard; while these and fears will die recriminations
yet
neighbors planets, them divide of between her Arab with the live
separate most
on
place.
of taking growing,
there The signs that is
contrary process norms are some a
beginning the the democratic lift Israel fortresses of conservatism, trickle in into
to
are
religion,s fem- phenomenon of Israeli Arab and traditional Muslim The communities.
change persuading law the which succeeded have the inist in Knesset
groups, to to
religious (Sharia)
civil allow Muslim rather than their husbands in
to women sue
killings," exaggerated be minimized either. "Honor but be
is
courts,
to not to not
they while reduced. still have been exist,
by
change
the hushed feels Arabs concealed wind Israeli of One
among
a
flee, unbridled nationalist below but surface. Israeli Arabs element enjoy the active a
Conclusions
press--the only They Israel, free Arab freedom blast but region. that the in
press
to
use
having they
freedom, easily
repressive tasted this will live give
in it
up to not a more
Arab environment.
benign spread
chance Middle there that this will the whole East, Is
process over a
happens finally the Arab the miracle of world demo- when and the initiates
peace rest
optimistic--but social, reforms? and would wish be cratic, the One vision economic
to
eotintries
receding. hope
only
Israel's the Arab be who that One
to seems can are
neighbors large
able be Israel
achieved, scale what has been will
in
repeat
to
a on a on
legislative through impressive sl.oall but scale--a and narrowing of inifia6zces gaps
change. socioeconomic
NOTES
Mandatory {Jerusalem: Mandatory 1945), Palestine, available the Book of Year Government in l.
Israel Archives. State
Bollini Harald Paolo and Progress Equity: Migrants and Real towards Health of Siem, "No 2.
(1995): of
Medicine, Ethnic Social 2000," the the and Minorities 6 Science 819-28. Eve Year
on no.
Dispelling Myths, Gaps Israeli Arabs Nat•owing the the and Jews: 10
law,
currently professor journalist, lawyer, Rubinstein, Prof. the of and Amnon is
a
Herzliya, Interdisciplinary Radzyner the dean of Israel. School of of the Center Law in
Party, founded member of from and led the Shinui He 2001, Knesset 1977
to was a
portfolios
of held Israeli and has served cabinet Knesset committees. He
numerous on
Technology, and Infrastructure, from Energy Communications, and and and Science
Education, Sport.
1994-96 served of earned Culture, and Minister He B.A. in
a as
degree-from UniversiqT Hebrew and International Relations and law the Economics
a
Philosophy Jerusalem School of and Ph.D. from London the Economics. He in in a
political modern the for and author of several books v,,ritea Ha'aretz
is
commentary on
Jewish his•ory jurisprudence. and