Arab-Jewish relations in Israel alienation and rapprochement

Summary: Israel is and remains a deeply divided society of some 5.6 million Jews and some 1.2 million Palestinian-Arab citizens. This division is reflected in institutions, culture, national identity, socioeconomic status, and stances on fundamental issues. Arab-Jewish relations within Israel have worsened steadily since the Rabin assassination in 1995. Two conflicting theses explain the trends of changed relations between the Arab minority and Jewish majority. Mutual alienation asserts Arabs and Jews are not only deeply divided but also on a violent collision course. Mutual rapprochement suggests that Arabs and Jews are in the process of adjusting to one other. Analysis of survey data taken from 1976 through 2009 indicates that both Arabs and Jews are committed to coexistence and democracy. Arab attitudes toward the Jews and the Jewish state have become more critical and militant since 1996. Israel could accommodate the Arab minority without losing its character as a Jewish and democratic state. The Arabs could fulfill most of their demands without transforming Israel into a full binational state. A better balance, compatible with the visions of both sides, could be struck between the Jewish and democratic character of the state by policies of nondiscrimination, inclusion, and integration of the Arab minority. Reform could be undertaken, step by step, along with settling the Palestinian question and building trust between Arabs and Jews within Israel. No progress was made in this direction between 1996 and 2010, and the decline threatens the relative tranquility in Arab-Jewish relations. If the Jewish state does not enhance equality and integration of the Arabs and does not move forward on peace with the Palestinians, Arab attitudes will continue to harden, and both sides will suffer. Continued relative quiet in Arab-Jewish relations is an important condition for settling the Palestinian question. The answer to improving relations while keeping Israel Jewish and democratic and establishing a separate Palestinian state is to strengthen Israel's democracy and to find a better and fairer balance between its Jewish character and its democratic character.

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