www.mossawa.org MOSSAWANews Published by the Mossawa Center, The Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in April, 2009

Elections 2009

Mossawa's 2009 Election Analysis

Incorporating data and analysis from the 100 2009 elections, Mossawa Center updat- 90 ed its paper on Arab political participa- 80 tion. Throughout the election, Mossawa 70 60 carefully monitored campaigns, voting 50 trends and results. It found that Arab vot- 40 ing has steadily declined since 1999. In- 30 20 participation stead, some in the Arab community use Percentage of 10 political boycott to express their discon- 0 tent and to protest the legitimacy of the Israeli government, given the de facto 1949 1951 1955 1959 1961 1965 1969 1973 1977 1981 1984 1988 1992 1996 1999 2001 2003 2006 2009 Year exclusion of Arab parties in all govern- The Participation of Arab Voters in National Elections, 1949-2009 ment coalitions. Just 54% of the Arab community participated in the 2009 elec- tions, representing a 2% drop from 2006. participation since the 2006 elections, the gets translated into mandates. Despite this 2% fall in overall Arab number of Arab MKs elected to the Knes- 83% of Arab citizens who voted se- set from Arab or joint Arab-Jewish parties, lected one of three Arab or Arab- Party 1999 2003 2006 2009 3 3 3 4 who directly represented the community’s Jewish parties, while 17% of these United Arab interest, increased by 1 mandate from 10 citizens supported Zionist parties. 5 2 4 4 List MK in 2006 to 11 MKs. The total number With the formation of Israel’s ex- Balad 2 3 3 3 Labor 2 0 3 0 of Arab MKs including from Zionist par- treme rightwing government, Mossawa 1 0 0 0 ties remained the same at 14, as three Center predicts that the upcoming two to Kadima -- -- 1 1 Arab MKs were elected on Zionist party three years will be very challenging for the 1 2 0 1 lists (Kadima, Likud and Israel Beiteinu). region and Israel’s Arab citizens. It expects Israel Beitenu 0 0 0 1 Given the Arab community totals further confrontations in mixed cities such TOTAL 14 11 14 14 18% of the total population, and they are as the Acre riots in October 2008. Mossawa Knesset members representing the Arab com- approximately 14% of the voters, there is also deeply concerned about rising trends munity by political party remains a clear representation which in socioeconomic and legal discrimination. Table of Contents

Public And Private Acre Youth Comprise Half Local Actors, Cooperation And Economic City On The Front the Arab Population Acting Development in Israel Globally

Arab Leaders Sound Mossawa Raises Awareness of Alarm on New Racial Incitement Government 2 MOSSAWANewsletter April, 2009

Public and Private Cooperation and Economic Development

Cooperation between the public and private sectors is essential to boosting the Arab community’s socio- economic status. In addition to the government, the private sector must also play a strategic role in resolving the socioeconomic gaps between Jews and Arabs. The Mossawa Center’s Socioeconomic Unit has identi- fied the following strategies for the local, regional and international communities.

State Budget and Infrastructure Arab citizens receive 944 million NIS of the state budget, which is only 7.6% of the total development budget of 12.4 billion NIS. The government and private sector need to invest more in Arab in- frastructure planning. Priority projects include transportation, industrial zones, housing projects and schools.

Employment Public and private sectors need to employ a higher percentage of Arab workers, especially female. Target in- dustries include high-tech, govern- ment, research and tourism. In these industries, Arab citizens can apply their unique trilingual ability -- , Businessmen with Dr. Khoulod Deibes, the Palestinian Authority’s Minister of Tourism Hebrew and English -- to their work. ibility in, and accessibility to, the media. billion NIS is lost per year due to the Trade and Export Regional Cooperation unemployment of Arab women. Further- The food and trade industries in Israel are The instability within Israel and the oPT more, 80% of the Arab female work- predominantly staffed by Arabs. Conse- has negatively impacted the region’s force is concentrated in three industries: quently, the public sector needs to in- economy. While there is preliminary education, health services and welfare. crease institutional support so that Arab cooperation in trade investment, tour- Other minority groups have been able exports can reach the Middle Eastern ism, and labor, there is great potential to access a wider range of industries. region and to international economies. for further cooperation in education Mossawa recommends that the gov- through cultural exchange. ernment support programs which as- Media sist Arab women in accessing diverse Currently, it is difficult for Arab citizens to Arab Women educational and professional resources. gain access to Middle Eastern and Is- Half of the Arab student population is raeli Hebrew media. Print, film and tele- female, however only 23% of the Arab Research and Human Resources vision are important forums for sociocul- workforce is female. By comparison, Education resources are not distrib- tural and political dialogue. The private 56% of Jewish women and 59% of uted proportionally between Jews and sector needs to help increase Arab vis- Arab men are employed. According to Arabs. A far lower percentage of Arab analysis by the Mossawa Center, 6.2 students completing degrees in higher education are employed in professional industries. There are currently 36,000 unskilled Arab workers in the labor mar- ket. It is important to bridge this sig- nificant education and workforce gap.

For further information, please see Mossawa Center’s paper “The Eco- nomic Status of the Arab Community: An Overview” available at www.mossawa.org Workshop on education and human resources in the Arab community MOSSAWANewsletter April, 2009 3

Mossawa holds 2nd Annual Economic Conference

On December 4, 2008, Mossawa Cen- There were four panels entitled, for Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud ter hosted its annual Economic Develop- “Export, Traditional Industries, and the Inter- Abbas. Additionally, the conference also ment and Business Initiatives Conference national Economic Crisis”; “Education and Hu- included representatives from the Ministry in Nazareth. With the international financial man Resources”; “Financing Resources and of Treasury and Industry, international eco- crisis as a background, the conference was Infrastructure”; and “Employment Possibilities.” nomic experts, local business leaders and highly anticipated. The conference covered Notable participants included NGOs. three main topics: the economic potential of Ramez Jaraisy, the Mayor of Nazareth, Mazen If you would like to be involved or receive the Arab minority in Israel, integration of the Ghanaim, the Mayor of Sakhnin Dr. Khoulod information on the Third Annual Economic Arab minority into the national economy, and Deibes, the Palestinian Authority Minister of Conference to take place in October 2009, integration into the international economy. Tourism and Dr. Hassan Abu Libdi, consultant please contact: [email protected].

UK Local Government Association Cooperating With Arab Local Authorities

Arab and British Local Councils have taken the first steps towards long-term cooperation, facilitated by the Mossawa Center, Injaz and the Committee of Arab Mayors. The cooperation between the local organizations and the UK Local Government Association (LGA) began with the vision and support of Sir Jere- my Beecham, first chairman of the LGA and currently the LGA Vice-Chairman. LGA experts held a two-day training for the heads of Arab local councils on March 25 and 26, 2009. The principal aim of the training was to enhance the performance of Arab local authorities and to facilitate coopera- tion among them with the UK and EU. The training focused on generating (L-r) Mayor Nader Sarsur of Tira, Mayor Khaled Hamdan of Umm al-Fahm, James Beadle resources for Arab local councils, es- pecially through public-private sector Keynote speakers at the event state budget. Ghaida Rinawi Zoabi, ex- partnerships. It also addressed the included Shawki Khatib, chairman of ecutive director of Injaz presented sur- impact that Israeli government policies Injaz and former chairman of the Com- vey findings on Arab Local Councils. and the international financial crisis will mittee of Heads of Arab Local Authori- Professor Rasem Khamaysi spoke on have on local councils. ties, the newly appointed chairman of the theme of regional cooperation and The training consisted of a the Committee of Heads of Arab Local MK Dr. Hanna Sweid discussed local series of lectures and workshops con- Authorities, engineer Ramez Jaraisy, leadership. As a follow-up to the train- ducted by experts recruited by the James Beadle, representative of the ing, Mossawa is looking to send a del- LGA. They included Judi Billing from LGA, Dean Hurlock, representative of egation of Arab mayors to the UK. Learning for Leadership, Martin Lip- the British Embassy, and Jafar Farah, The two day training was con- son, program director at 4ps and Ra- director of the Mossawa Center. ducted with the support of the Foreign chel Litherland, National Adviser on Mossawa Center economist Commonwealth Office and the Trust- Partnerships for the Improvement and Amin Fares also spoke at the event, house Foundation with the initiative of Development Agency (IDeA). addressing the economic crisis and the Sir Jeremy Beecham. 4 MOSSAWANewsletter April, 2009

Acre City on the Front On the eve of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, October 2008, Taufiq Jamal, an Arab resident of the northern city of Acre, drove his car into a mixed Arab and Jewish neighborhood to pick up his daughter from her fiancé’s home. Angered that Jamal was disrupting the observances of Yom Kip- has been made in ending discrimination. If there is internal tension between Jews pur, Jewish youth attacked his car and the The conflict in Acre has several and Arab citizens, it will further aggravate home of his daughter’s fiancé. They threw consequences not only for Arab citizens the tension between Israel and the oPT. stones and chanted, “Death to Arabs.” in Israel but also for national and regional The October 2008 riots have Rumors spread among the Arab stability. The slow and reluctant response also fueled political extremism, as evi- residents in Acre’s Old City that Jamal had of local authorities, including the police denced by the recent elections. Israel been killed. Groups of Arab youth took to and the city council, galvanizes feelings Beitenu, led by , the streets. The violent confrontations last- of frustration and insecurity among the and the National Union, which includes ed for the next several days, leaving more Arab community. It damages the already Arial Eldad, have openly advocated than one hundred Arab and Jewish homes fragile relations between Jewish and Arab for the transfer of the Arab population. and other properties were damaged. Four citizens. Furthermore, the portrayal of Arab In light of the deteriorating situa- people were hospitalized and fourteen violence in Acre is fueling anti-Arab sen- tion, Mossawa Center recommends that Arab families, seventy-two people in to- timent across the country. It could lead civil society, the international community tal, were forced to evacuate their homes. to further violence and confrontations in and the media promote peaceful coex- Three Arab homes were completely burned mixed cities such as Haifa, , Natzareth istence and a resolution to internal strife. down. Illit, Carmiel, Beer-Sheva, Lod and Ramleh. It recommends that the Or Commission’s Throughout the riots and their findings be implemented immediately. aftermath, the Mossawa Center was present in Acre to document the violence and assist the family that were victims. Response of the Mossawa Center For several Arab families, the Yom Kip- pur violence was only one in a series of The Mossawa Center has been actively as submitted official complaints against acts of anti-Arab aggression. One family responding to the Acre events through websites calling for violence against Arabs. various strategies. had been attacked four times since 2000. Media advocacy As the Mossawa Center’s re- Community response The Mossawa Center visited damaged port states, “No conflict begins on the The Mossawa Center helped families in homes, recorded families’ testimonies, day the first person throws a stone Acre, when the local authorities failed to and took photos and videos of the riots but is part of a wider network of inter- respond promptly. Mossawa met with and the damage they caused. Photo- linked events.” The conflict in Acre is no families daily; donated beds and furniture graphs and press releases detailing these exception and is another example of to the families; activated local civil society events are available on the Mossawa the breadth of the Israeli-Arab conflict. groups to intervene; provided short-term Center website. Mossawa also alerted In October 2000, Israeli police financial assistance; coordinated with and updated local and international me- Mobadara, the Arab Emergency Center, to dia. killed thirteen Arab citizens during demon- host a community therapy day in Nazareth strations following the start of the Second which took place on October 24, 2008. International advocacy Intifada. The Israeli government subse- The Mossawa Center kept the interna- quently established the Or Commission to Legal advocacy tional community up-to-date about the investigate the incident. It found that the The Mossawa Center’s legal adviser events in Acre. Member of the European State of Israel “must work to wipe out the advocated for the Minister of Finance Parliament, David Hammerstein-Mintz, stain of discrimination against its Arab citi- to declare the events in Acre a political came to speak out against anti-Arab vio- zens, in its various forms and expressions.” confrontation and to compensate all the lence in Acre, and met with the Arce may- Unfortunately, few of the Or Commission’s families accordingly. Mossawa launched or and MK David Azolay. Mossawa’s desk a successful legal case ensuring that in Brussels composed a policy paper on recommendations have been implement- this compensation be realized. Following the situation and presented the issues to ed. The extreme Right in Acre even un- Mossawa;s intervention and that of other relevant European bodies.Mossawa also dertook measures to “Judaize” the city, organizations, the Ministry of Finance distributed information to all foreign em- by leading a two-year boycott of the Old compensated most victims. Additionally, bassies in Israel. Several embassies used City, the economic hub of the Arab com- Mossawa Center provided damage as- Mossawa’s reports for their own assess- munity in Acre. The October 2008 conflict sessment. Mossawa’s legal unit carefully ments of the Acre events, which they for- in Acre only reveals how little progress monitored the police investigation as well warded to their respective governments. MOSSAWANewsletter April, 2009 5

Legal Status

Towards a Civil Agreement

The formal legal status of the Arab mation of Independence, which states advocacy, Mossawa is spearheading citizens in Israel has always been un- that the State of Israel “will foster the a coalition of civil society organizations dermined, in large part due to the dual development of the country for the that is serving as a counter-force to definition of the state as both Jewish benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be the Knesset’s proposals. For several and democratic. Although one in ev- based on freedom, justice and peace years, Mossawa has been working ery five Israeli citizens is a Palestinian as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; with this coalition on drafting an Equal Arab, the Israeli government has yet to it will ensure complete equality of social Constitution. recognize this group as a national mi- and political rights to all its inhabitants As a preliminary step in draft- nority. Instead, the government refers irrespective of religion, race or sex; ing a constitution, Mossawa has been to the Arab minority as “non-Jews,” it will guarantee freedom of religion, facilitating activities towards the cre- or generally as “minorities.” Despite conscience, language, education and ation of a civil agreement. These have the electoral system of proportional culture.” However, the Proclamation included meetings on multiculturalism representation, the Arab minority in of Independence is not considered a in Israel, strategy building for advocacy Israel has never gained full and equal constitutional document, so these el- in the Knesset, a media action plan, and citizenship, and a genuine democracy egant sentiments have no legal effect. drafting position papers on the institu- requires equal rights for all of its citi- In the Knesset, the Constitu- tional and social changes that need to zens. tion, Law and Justice Committee has accompany a constitution’s ratification. As Israel does not have a been submitting constitutional pro- For more information about formal constitution, there is no legal posals for a vote over the last several Mossawa’s Legal Status work, please guarantee for equality in civil rights. years. Unfortunately, these proposals see “An Equal Constitution for All?: on The most commonly quoted section, largely ignore the rights of the Arab a Constitution and Collective Rights in demonstration of Israel’s genuine community and other ethnic groups. for Arab Citizens in Israel”, available democractic character, is the Procla- Recognizing the need for immediate on www.mossawa.org

Mossawa’s main findings, as summa- rized in the report, include the following Mossawa Records A findings for 2008:

Dramatic Rise In Racist 29 events of racial incitement 17 cases of police attacks on Arab Incidents In 2008 citizens 70 incidents of racist violence Mossawa Center has recorded a one- been a 300% rise in police violence. perpetrated by Jewish citizens hundred fifty and percent rise in racist The Arab Local Councils’ Elec- against Arabs activity in Israel since the previous year. tions in November 2008, the Gaza crisis 39 racist incidents during football Mossawa analyzed these findings in its’ in January 2009 and National Elections games 2009 Racism Report officially released on in February 2009 have exacerbated ten- 15 incidents of racial profiling and March 21, 2009, coinciding with the UN sions. discrimination in access to International Day for the Elimination of The report includes testimonies services Racial Discrimination. The report docu- from targeted individuals and families. ments 271 racist incidents that occurred The Ibrahim family of Acre, for exam- 12 discriminatory legislative bills inside Israel over the past year. Mossa- ple, reports being attacked repeatedly passed wa Center first distributed the report at by Jewish extremists. Their home was 23 cases of delegitimization of Arab its Anti-Racism Conference in Acre (see vandalized and their car torched in early political leaders page 5), a city in northern Israel where 2009. While CCTV footage recorded per- 10 incidents of religious discrimina- violent confrontations between Jews and petrators igniting their car, the police has tion Arabs took place in October 2008. yet to sufficiently respond. Mossawa reports a 1000% For more information about Mos- 14 incidents of racism against rise in racially motivated civilian vio- sawa’s racism findings, please Jews committed by other Jews. lence against Arabs in 2008 as com- see “2009 Racism Report”, avail- 42 Arab citizens killed in racially pared with 2007. There has also able on www.mossawa.org motivated attacks since 2000 6 MOSSAWANewsletter April, 2009

Community outreach Youth Comprise Half the Arab Population in Israel

Half of the Arab population in Israel is under eighteen years old. These youth have the potential to contribute significantly to community building. Consequently, it is important to create a safe context for these youth. Through its community and youth-oriented initiatives, Mossawa is helping with peacebuild- ing on the grassroots level, working with lawyers, youth, local councils, NGOs, media and businessmen. Current projects include Advocacy for Equality in Housing and Planning, Media advocacy, Campaign Against Racism, the International Humanitarian Law project (IHL), Arab-European Dialogue (AED) and the Leap of Faith Together project (LOFT).

Leap of Faith Together (LoFT)

“Leap of Faith Together” or LoFT is a project sponsored by the British Coun- cil and implemented by the Mossawa Center. It organizes Jewish and Arab youth into a volunteer corps, with the belief that teamwork breaks down eth- nic, religious, and political barriers. Since October 2008, the LoFT team has met weekly. Originally, the team designed a project in which Jewish and Arab youth in Haifa would visit one an- other’s neighborhoods. Unfortunately, the war in Gaza prevented the project from being fully realized. With the hopes of ex- umentary will be available on the Mos- menia visited Israel, while the team from tracting a positive lesson from negative sawa Center’s website in the near future. Israel visited Azerbaijan. These meetings circumstances, the LoFT team created A second component of the were crucial for exchanging strategies a documentary about its project and the LoFT project was exchange among and expertise on building intercultural obstacles it faced. The LoFT team’s doc- LoFT teams. The LoFT team from Ar- relations on the ground in conflict areas. International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Project

The Mossawa Center has been running a training and education program on In- ternational Humanitarian Law. The proj- ect has two overriding goals: 1) To raise awareness of IHL in the Arab community in Israel: 2) To establish Mossawa as a center for IHL education. Mossawa has provided training at high schools and universities, and to journalists, advocates, and the general public. Following training, participants have continued to use Mossawa as an materials online and published IHL ad- panded guide to IHL in Arabic. IHL resource. To expand the project’s vertisements in print. Currently, the IHL This project is supported by the Swed- outreach, Mossawa has disseminated project is working on publishing an ex- ish organisation Diakonia. MOSSAWANewsletter April, 2009 7

Arab-European Dia- logue (AED)

“Did you know that nearly every Dutch citizen owns a bicycle, and there is twice as many bicycles than cars? And did you know that you can see Arab cul- tural influence in Andalusia in Spain?” With these and other pro- vocative cultural questions, Mossawa Center launched its Arab-European Dialogue project (AED). The project tar- geted a group of fifteen to seventeen- year-old local Arab students. Led by two European trainers, AED educated guage of their respective countries. Stu- ism, child abuse and women’s rights. students on European culture and dents simulated the cultural norms of They produced leaflets, flyers, a docu- politics with the aim of encouraging living in a European country, ambassa- mentary, and gave presentations at lo- participants to become more active dorial visits between countries, and cul- cal schools. citizens. Towards the end of AED, stu- tural games. These simulations provid- Their efforts culminated in an dents designed their own community ed students with a way to think critically exhibition on April 15, with special outreach projects and presented them about building intercultural relations. guest EU Ambassador Ramiro Cib- at the final exhibition on April 15, 2009. Towards the conclusion of rian- Uzal addressing the youth and When the project began in Jan- these sessions, students designed their families. During the exhibit, the uary 2009, students were designated their own projects to address socio- students presented posters, photo- as “ambassadors” of EU countries and economic and human rights topics in graphs, presentations, and the docu- researched the culture, politics and lan- their communities. Issues included rac- mentary video “Look Into My Eyes.”

أنتبه! العنصرية مفترسة! وأنت فريستها !لألنسانية أنا عنصري بس

Literature for students’ AED projects 8 MOSSAWANewsletter April, 2009

Local Actors, Acting Globally

International advocacy is a key compo- EU’s project to upgrade bilateral rela- A summary of Mossawa’s recommen- nent of Mossawa Center’s work. In 2005, tions with Israel within the context of dations, as taken from its policy paper: two major events took place: Mossawa the European Neighborhood Policy. organized a hearing in the European This upgrade will replace the Peace based on UN decisions must Parliament on the Arab minority. It also current EU-Israel Action plan, which be promoted as part of the EU policy monitored the EU-Israel Action Plan, is based on the EU-Israel Associa- and instruments in the region. which led to a call for minority rights tion Agreement. The agreement con- Provisions ensuring the equal partici- protection in Israel. Following these tains provisions on human rights and pation of the Palestinian Arab minor- two successes, Mossawa opened its the principle of equality. Mossawa is ity must be included in the upgraded Brussels desk in 2007. Mossawa is the advocating for these provisions to be status instrument. first organization to advocate on behalf strengthened and implemented. of the Arab citizens in Israel in the EU. The Mossawa Center has de- Protection of equal rights for the Pal- Mossawa’s Brussels Desk, in veloped a comprehensive policy paper estinian Arab minority must be en- April 2008, organized an event called on the EU upgrade, which analyzes sured. “The Palestinian how Israel has not adhered to the As- Human rights benchmarks must be and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: Building sociation Agreement’s provision. Con- established. A Subcommittee on Peace or Complicating the Conflict?”. sistent with other European Neighbor- Human Rights must be created The event brought together Palestin- hood Policy agreements, the Mossawa ian and Jewish civil society leaders Center recommends that the EU en- The socio-economic status of the and policymakers from the EU. In June force human rights benchmarks in Is- Palestinian Arab minority must be 2008, Mossawa closely monitored the rael in order to monitor its progress. addressed and improved. A monitoring and enforcement mechanism must be established. PF7 The EU-Israel relationship must be In a policy brief released in December 2008, the Mossawa Cen- based on conditionality. ter called on the European Parliament to ensure the full par- The culture and history of the Pales- ticipation of the Arab citizens in Community Programs. These tinian Arab minority must be recog- include employment of Arab researchers, experts, and tech- nized and protected as part of EU- nical staff in the Seventh Framework Programme and an in- Israel cooperation. crease of information flow to Arab researchers and institutes.

In light of new sociopolitical realities following the US and Israeli elections, Mossawa Center will be undertaking an advocacy tour to the United States. The tour aims to raise awareness about Palestinian Arab citizens in Israel, their status, and the community’s role in pro- moting human rights and peace in the region. In tandem with this tour, Mos- sawa also refocused its international advocacy efforts. The Center has been The Japanese Embassy Delegation with the Mayor of Kefar Kare and Mossawa staff meeting with ambassadors and inter- national diplomats at embassies in Tel Aviv and at Mossawa’s office in Haifa. sador, whose country will take over the sy to the Triangle area in central Israel, Mossawa outreached to new- presidency in June. At these meetings, where Arab businesses, factories and er EU member states and met with Mossawa discussed how the EU-Israel local councils are located. The Japanese both the Czech Ambassador to Israel, upgrade will affect the Arab community. Embassy is highly interested in investing whose country currently holds the EU Additionally, Mossawa coordi- in the Palestinian economic infrastruc- presidency, and the Swedish ambas- nated a tour for the Japanese Embas- ture on both sides of the Green Line. MOSSAWANewsletter April, 2009 9

Palestine Youth Orchestra Performs for First Time in Haifa

The isolation of the Palestinian minor- ity in Israel has created a crisis in cul- tural exchange. Local Palestinians have few opportunities for artistic collabora- tion with residents in the oPT, Middle East and international community. In July 2008, Mossawa Center, in cooperation with Beit-Almusica and the Edward Said National Conservato- ry of Music, hosted the Palestine Youth Orchestra and the Collegium Musicum Orchestra of the University of Bonn, Germany. The event was part of the concert series “My Song is Jerusalem,” which toured in Ramallah, Amman and Damascus, under the leadership of Conductor Walter Mik. The Palestine Youth Orchestra, established Ramallah in 2004, is the flagship orchestra of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music. It is a unique ensemble that brings together young Palestinian musicians from the oPT and the Diaspora. Today the PYO is made up of fifty-five Palestinian youth The first half of the con- Bulos, Rima Tarazi, Reem Banna and between the ages of 14 and 25, hailing cert featured a performance of Aram Stephen Adams. It also included per- from the oPT, Jordan, Egypt , Syria and Katchadurian’s “Gayane Ballet Suite formances by vocalists Reem Banna, Europe. The youth are trained by Arab No. 2.” The second half consisted Rima Talhami, Dima Bawab and Abdel and international teachers. The concert of six songs celebrating Jerusalem, Raheem AlQam. The concert was a was the first time the PYO performed in with original pieces composed by the great success, attracting over five hun- Haifa. Rahbani brothers, Suhail Khoury, Issa dred spectators and press. 10 MOSSAWANewsletter April, 2009 Arab Leaders Sound Alarm on New Government

The Mossawa Center hosted a roundtable entitled “The 2009 Israeli Elections: Impli- cations for the Arab Community, the Crisis in Gaza, and the Peace Process” in which Arab leaders sounded an alarm about the incoming government. The event took place at the Journalist’s Union in Tel Aviv. Arab political and civil soci- ety leaders gathered before forty foreign ambassadors to raise awareness of dis- crimination, racism and incitement in an- ticipation of the national elections. They (L-R) Rania Laham-Grayeb, Jafar Farah, Ibrahim Sarsur, Ramzi Suleiman, Ahmad Tibi at roundtable cited events—the crisis in Gaza, the Acre confrontations in October 2008, and MK Ibrahim Sarsur, the Head of Left though electoral participation. the Central Elections Committee’s ban the Islamic Movement and the United Arab Professor Ramzi Suleiman, on Arab party participation—as signs List, took on a holistic view by urging the former Chair of Psychology at the Uni- of Arab citizens’ deteriorating situation. audience to “save the Jewish and Arab versity of Haifa, commented, “The lack Mossawa Center’s director, Jafar peoples of the region.” He highlighted of progress [towards peace] stems Farah, highlighted how the extreme right- how Arab Islamic countries are willing to from the fact that no real process of wing is complicating the Middle East peace coexist peacefully with Israel, as estab- reconciliation and forgiveness is tak- process. Foreign Minister Lieberman has lished in the Saudi Peace Initiative in 2002. ing place in the public debate in Israel.” been quoted describing Arab citizens of MK Ahmad Tibi argued, that Aida Touma, Director of Women Israel “an enemy within.” The right-wing Lieberman’s rise marks the deep po- Against Violence and the fifth candidate also uses a rhetoric of civil war to justify larization of the Israeli electorate. Tibi on the Hadash Party list, closed the ses- unlawful settlements in the , ar- stated that he and other leaders were sion with how proud she is to be a mem- guing that to remove settlers would create working avidly to increase Arab MK ber of “an alternative Jewish-Arab party internal strife among Jewish Israelis. representation and to strengthen the fighting fascism in Israel.” 2009 Anti-Racism Conference in Acre On March 21, 2009, over twenty or- In the first panel, entitled “The Differ- participants agreed to establish a team ganizations, including the Mossawa ent Faces of Racism,” the definition that would organize talkback projects. Center and a representative from the and sources of racism were discussed. After these activities, the South Embassy of South Africa, convened The second panel, entitled “Racism in African film “Between Joyce and Re- at Al Laz theatre in Acre for an Anti- mixed cities: the case of Acre,” ana- membrance” was screened. Racism Conference. The event was lyzed the violence which rocked the The active participation of the held on the International Day for the city last year. Some of the Arab fami- public indicates that there is a real belief Elimination of Racial Discrimination. lies evacuated from their homes, who in change. The conference marks the In October 2008, Acre expe- were in attendance, expressed fear beginning of a plan of action by a Co- rienced some of the worst violence in and frustration. Their experiences alition against racism, which Mossawa Israel since the outbreak of the Second sounded alarms for potential outbreaks and other organizations are forming. Intifada in 2000. in other mixed cities such as Tel Aviv- The following organizations Abir Kopty, Mossawa project Jaffa, Carmiel, Nazareth Illit and Haifa. participated in the Conference: Sikkuy, coordinator, opened the conference Meanwhile, during the first Women’s Coalition for Peace, Isha L’Isha, and the First Secretary of the South workshop “Planning Actions to Fight Revolution, Women Against Violence, African Embassy, Tsholo Tsheole, dis- Racism,” over thirty people shared Kav LaOved (Worker’s Hotline), The Fol- cussed the importance of building ideas on cooperative projects on which low-Up Committee on Arab Education, mechanisms to combat racism. Tshe- Jews and Arabs could work together. Arab Center for Alternative Planning, ole explained how in post-apartheid The second workshop “Communication The Mizrachi Democratic Rainbow, Isra- South Africa, linguistic and cultural as a Tool to Combat Racism: Talk-back- el Religious Action Center (IRAC), Agen- differences are fueling segregation. ism as Activism” addressed methods to da, Sakada-Reut, Aliater, Almuntada Workshops facilitated by ac- combat racism through media, such as Altakadumi, Altufula, Mobadara, The tivists and professionals took place ‘talkback’ responses to online articles. Negev Coexistence Forum, Recognition concurrently with lectures and panels. At the conclusion of the workshop, forum-Naqab and other organizations. MOSSAWANewsletter April, 200911

Media Outreach Mossawa Raises Awareness of Racial Incitement

Media has a special role in promot- strategy for the Hebrew, Arabic and in Arabic, Hebrew, Russian and Eng- ing human rights, as it can inten- international press. Projects included lish. They exclaimed, “A rise of 1000% sify or defuse conflicts by show- monitoring the local and international in the number of Arab citizens attacked casing alternative perspectives, media, providing findings and data to by Jewish citizens,” and they went on information and analysis. Jewish citi- news sources, and issuing press re- to call out, “The government’s complic- zens often develop their opinions of leases. The campaign was met with ity in and support of racial violence is Arab citizens based on negative ste- great praise. It attracted hundreds of complicating the Middle East reality.” reotypes in the Hebrew media. Jewish supporters, who are now advo- Finally, internal Arab com- To date, Hebrew-language cating to the government against dis- munity tensions are another issue on media has treated the Arab citizens of criminatory legislation and hate crimes. which Mossawa’s media outreach Israel as the “other.” Reports on the They are also active participants in is focused. Through its media strat- Arab community more often cover top- events hosted by the Mossawa Center. egy, Mossawa raised awareness of ics such as violence or government dis- As a continuation of this suc- community fragmentation and in- sent. Minimal attention is paid to the in- cessful strategy, during the recent State tercommunity violence prior to the ternal affairs of the Arab minority, such as election period, Mossawa Center imple- last local council’s elections. economic development or cultural life. mented a campaign to raise awareness The Mossawa Center de- of racial incitement. The campaign in- veloped and implemented a media volved publishing ads in the local press Let's http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1071925.html Connect Mark your Jordan Times Calendar http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=15260 Economic Development & Business Initiatives in the Arab Community 04/12/2008 Golden Crown Hotel, Nazareth Program: 09:00 – 09:30 09:30 – 10:00 Registration 10:00 – 11:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks 11:30 – 12:00 Plenary session: 12:00 – 13:30 Break Parallel panels: Regional Economic Cooperation

1. Export, Local Industries and the International Economic Crisis 2 0 0 9 13:30 – 14:00 2. Education & Human Resources 14:00 – 15:30 Break Parallel panels:

270 3. Financing ResourcesRacism and Infrastructure Report 'Employment PossibilitiesFinding: 270 Racist Incidents .4 דו"ח הגזענות

2 0 0 9 For more information אירועים גזענים Tel: 04 8555901/2 a Rise of Fax: 04 8552772 .P.O.Box 44715 Saint – Haifa Luke’s 31043 St במספר [email protected] % www.mossawa.

org م���رك���ز م���س���اواة מ ר כ ז מ ו ס א ו א עליה של in Mossawa the Center number of Arab citizens attacked by Jewish citizens המטה נגד 0 0 0 הפאשזים 1והגזענות ﹼﻭﻻ ﻣﻴﻦ ﺃﺣﺴﻦ "The Ibrahim Kondos family, which was 2009, March 21, Mossawa Center על ידי שוטרים attacked during the Acre incidents, was ﺍﻟﻤﺴﻴﺤﻴ Racism Report attacked a second time half a year later, by ﹼ ﺔ the same Jewishdid not indictextremists, the suspects." and the police ﻭﻻ % האזרחים 0 הערבים 0 שהותקפו3 ﺍﻹﺳﻼﻡ כתבי אישום" , s complicity in and support of racial : " שני שוטרים תקפו והכו את האזרח סברי ג'רג'אוי ﺍﻟﻮﻃﻨﻴﺔ ﻫﻲ ﺃﻳﻀﺎﹰ שמת מפצעיו,מח"ש אינה מעמידה אותם לדין, m ﺍﻟﺪﺭﻭﺯ גזענות שני שוטרים נוספים שירו במחמוד גנאים ונדים The Government For further information violence is complicating the Middle East reality. 04-8555901/04-8555902 מלחם מסתובבים חופשי למרותמדו"ח הגזענות שהוגש נגדם [email protected] שולחן הממשלה www.mossawa.org הורגת... אטימות הורסת! 9 0 0 2 של מרכז מוסאוא מקומם של המסיתים לגזענות אינו סביב

ﻟﻼﻧﻀﻤﺎﻡ ﻟﻔﻌﺎﻟﻴﺎﺕ ﻣﺮﻛﺰ ﻣﺴﺎﻭﺍﺓ:

…Kills ﻭﺍﻟﻌﺎﺋﻠﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺤﻤﺎﺋﻠﻴﺔ ﺗﺸﺘﺪ، ﻭﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻌﺪﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻷﺣﻴﺎﻥ ﺗﺆﺩﻱ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺃﺣﺪﺍﺙ ﻋﻨﻒ ﻣﺆﺳﻔﺔ. m Racism !Turning a blind eye destroys ﺷﺎﺭﻉ ﺳﺎﻧﺖ ﻟﻮﻛﺲ 5، ﺹ.ﺏ. 4471 – ﺣﻴﻔﺎ 31043 ﻣﺴﺆﻭﻟﻴﺘﻨﺎ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﻴﺤﻲ ﺩﺍﺧﻞ ﻣﺠﺘﻤﻌﻨﺎﻭﺍﻟﻤﺴﻠﻢ ﻟﻜﻲ ﻭﺍﻟﺪﺭﺯﻱ ﻧﺤﻤﻴﻪ ﻫﻮ ﻣﻦ ﺇﺑﻦ ﺧﻄﺮ ﺑﻠﺪﻙ، ﺍﻻﻧﻘﺴﺎﻡ؟ﻭﻫﻮ ﺇﺑﻦ ﺷﻌﺒﻚ.. ﻣﺶ ﻣﻬﻢ ﺷﻮ ﺩﻳﻨﻮ ﻭﺷﻮ ﻋﻴﻠﺘﻮ..

לפרטים נוספים: ﻭﻟﻬﺬﺍ ﻧﻨﺎﺷﺪ ﻛﻞ ﺃﻓﺮﺍﺩ ﺇﻧﺘﺨﺎﺑﺎﺕ ﻣﺠﺘﻤﻌﻨﺎ ﺍﻟﻌﺮﺑﻲ ﺍﻟﺴﻠﻄﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻔﻠﺴﻄﻴﻨﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺑﺄﻥ ﻳﺤﻤﻮﺍ ﺍﻷﺑﻮﺍﺏ، ﺷﻌﺒﻨﺎ،ﻭﻛﻠﻨﺎ ﻧﺸﻬﺪ ﻭﻟﻨﻌﻤﻞ ﺟﻤﻴﻌﺍﻻﺣﺘﺮﺍﺏ ﺍﻟﺪﺍﺧﻠﻲ ﺃﺛﻨﺎﺀ ﻫﺬﻩ ﺍﻟﻔﺘﺮﺓ، ﻓﺎﻟﻄﺎﺋﻔﻴﺔ ﻫﺎﺗـﻒ: 2/8555901 4 972+ | ﻓـﺎﻛـﺲ: 8552772 4 +972

ﻭﻧﺤﻦ ﻧﺘﺴﺎﺀﻝ: ﻫﻞ ﻣﻔﻬﻮﻡ ﺍﻟﻮﻃﻨﻴﺔ ﻳﻘﺘﺼﺮ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﻨﺎﻫﻀﺘﻨﺎ ﻟﺴﻴﺎﺳﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻤﻴﻴﺰ ﻭﺍﻟﻘﻤﻊ ﺍﻟﺴﻠﻄﻮﻳﺔ؟ ﺃﻡ ﺃﻥ 04-8555901/2 [email protected] www.mossawa.org [email protected] | Website: www.mossawa.org ﺍﻻﻧﺘﺨﺎﺑﺎﺕ :Emailﻳﻮﻡ ﻭﺍﻫﻞ ﺍﻟﺒﻠﺪ ﻛﻞ ﻳﻮﻡ ﺎ ﻟﺘﻜﻮﻥ ﻓﺘﺮﺓ ﺍﻻﻧﺘﺨﺎﺑﺎﺕ ﺧﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﺘﻌﺼﺐ ﺍﻟﻄﺎﺋﻔﻲ ﻭﺍﻟﻌﺎﺋﻠﻲ ﻭﺍﻟﺤﻤﺎﺋﻠﻲ ﻭﻛﺎﻓﺔ ﺃﺷﻜﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﻌﻨﻒ، ﻓﻠﻨﻀﻊ ﻣﺼﻠﺤﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﻠﺪ ﻭﺃﻫﻠﻬﺎ ﺍﻭﻻﹰ.

ﻣــﺮﻛــﺰ ﻣــﺴــﺎﻭﺍﺓ Mossawa Center The Mossawa Center would like to thank the Euro-Med Youth III Project, ICCO, Kerk In Actie and the Open Society Institute for their support of this newsletter. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Mossawa Center and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union, ICCO, Kerk In Actie and Open Society Insitute.

OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE & Soros Foundations Network

We would like to thank the private and public resources, whose generous support makes the Mos- sawa Center’s projects possible. The contents published in our documents and this publication, express the opinions of the Mossawa Center and can not be regarded as reflecting the position of the foundations supporting our work.

With thanks to: Abraham Fund Initiatives Heinrich Boll Stiftung Diakonia ICCO European Union Kerk In Actie EED - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst Moriah Fund Elijah Trust New Israel Fund Ford Israel Fund Open Society Institute Friedrich Ebert Stiftung The United Nations Democracy Fund

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