Session 10
Maya Hadar
 Israel as a Melting Pot
Minority groups in Israel
Contemporary Immigration
 Arab-Israelis
On The Agenda For Today2
Immigration from Ethiopia=>
 1980's and 1990’s: Aliyah of the ancient Jewish community of Ethiopia
 1984: 7k Ethiopian Jews walked to Sudan (hundreds of miles), where a
secret effort ‘Operation Moses’ brought them to Israel
Israel as a Melting Pot
 1991: Another 15k arrived in a dramatic airlift
from Addis Ababa, ’Operation Solomon’ (took 30h)
 Several “last” groups of Ethiopian Jews ‘have made
Aliyah’ to Israel, including 450 Ethiopian Jews who
arrived in Israel in 2013
Israel as a Melting Pot
Immigration from Ethiopia=>
 2015: The Israeli government approved the entry of the “last group” of
Ethiopian Jews- app. 9,1k Ethiopian Jews, most of whom were at the
time living in refugee camps in Adis Ababa and Gondar
 The first group on October 9, 2016
 Many families split by Israel's migration decisions (Jews vs Falashim)
 Low human capital and pre-modern society
 Problems of integration & racism
Immigration from Western Countries =>
 While mass immigrations to Israel have mostly been from countries
of distress, immigration of individuals from the ’free world’ has also
continued throughout the years
 Mostly persons motivated by idealism/Zionism/Religion
 This aliyah gained strength after the Six Day War, with the
awakening feelings of Jewish identity among Diaspora Jewry
Israel as a Melting Pot
 Survey population: immigrants who arrived in Israel during 1990-2007
and were ages 26 – 74 in 2010
 Methods of data collecting: regular mail, Internet and CATI (ComputerAssisted
Telephone Interviewing)
Survey- Immigrants in Israel
Immigrants by country of birth
4.6
80.5
14.9
Ethiopia USSR (Former) Other countries
Immigrants by year of immigration to Israel
56.3
31.6
12.1
1990–1995 1996–2001 2002–2007
Demographic Characteristics
Immigrants by reasone of immigration
13.2
7.8
18.4
6.4
18.0 17.6
12.1
6.4
Political
situation in
countryof
origin(1)
Zionism Desire to live
as a Jew in
the Jewish
State
Desire to
advance
professionally
or
economically
Desire to
insure the
children's
future
Decision of
parents,
spouse or
another
relative
Immigration of
family
members
and/or friends
to Israel
Other
Reasons of Immigration
Education level at the time of immigration
Employment after Immigration
Future Optimism
Contemporary Immigration
 2014: Spike in immigration to Israel
 32% increase (compared to 2013), about 26,500 immigrants
 Immigration from the Ukraine increased more than 190% due to the
ongoing civil war and social unrest
 First time in the history of Israel immigration from France surpassed
immigration from every other country
 More people immigrated to Israel from free countries rather than from
countries in distress
Contemporary Immigration
Contemporary Immigration
 2015: Rising tide of anti-Semitism + fear of terror attacks prompted
the largest immigration of Jews to Israel from Western Europe
 9,880 Western European Jews made aliyah, the largest annual number
ever recorded
 The vast majority of these immigrants (7,900) came from France, where
there were two large terror attacks and several individual violent attacks
against Jews during that year
 800 individuals made aliyah from England
 31,013 Jewish individuals made Aliyah, a 12-year high
Contemporary Immigration
Contemporary Immigration
 2016 => Only 27k immigrants made aliyah to Israel, a significant
decrease compared with 2015
 2017 => 37k new immigrants, arriving from Russia (27%), the Ukraine
(25%), France (13%), and the United States (10%)
Contemporary Immigration
 Helping Jews Escape Hostile Areas
 Organized rescue missions of Jews
who, for safety’s sake, must immigrate to
Israel on short notice
 Israel as a safe haven
 Priority areas today for “Aliyah of
Rescue” are countries where living a
Jewish life is dangerous (countries that
are openly hostile to Israel)
Aliyah of Rescue
Operation Magic Carpet Airlifts
Yemenite Jews to Israel, 1949
16
Migration Share of Total Population Growth
35%
62%
80%
94%
50%
82%
65%
38%
20%
6%
50%
18%
1948-1960 1961-1971 1972-1982 1983-1989 1990-1999 2000-2008
Natural Increase Migration Balance
Israel as Ethnic Democracy
 According to the ’Law of Return’, a 'Jew' for the purposes of Aliyah and
citizenship is broadly defined, similarly to the Nazi anti-Jewish laws of the
1930s
 The gap between a civic and Halachic definitions of Jewishness is a source
of discrimination of non-Jews
 Lack of separation between state and religion & religious monopoly in
personal status laws
 The Law of Return does not include Arabs
Israel as Ethnic Democracy
 The problem of occupied territories and status of Palestinians beyond the
Green Line (including East Jerusalem)- Minority rights
 Two State solution vs State of all Citizens
 Ahkenasim, Spharadim & Mizrahim
 Old-timers vs. recent immigrants
 Social class and wealth
 Center vs periphery
 Political right-center-left-radical left
 Skin color, accents, dress & behavior codes
Social Cleaves
 Israel is a Democracy AND a Jewish State
 All citizens of Israel have the right to vote (eligible) and be represented
in the Israeli Parliament (Knesset)
 Pay taxes and are entitles to social welfare and health benefits
 Hold Israeli passports and identity cards
 Over 2 million people (app. 26% of Israel’s population) are not Jewish
and considered an ethnic minority
 Other minorities exist: cultural, religious etc.
 For example, Arabs are the largest cultural minority- common language,
different religious
Minority Communities in Israel
Religious minority groups in Israel =>
Minority Communities in Israel
 Christians
 Muslims
 Druze
 Cherkassy
 Achmadis
 Bahais
 Hindus
 Non homogenic
 Collectively defined as ‘Arab citizens of Israel’, non-Jewish communities
include a number of different (primarily Arabic-speaking) groups, each
with distinct characteristics
Muslim Arabs =>
 Over 1.2 million people, most of whom are Sunni
 Reside mainly in small towns and villages, over half of them in the north
of the country
Minority Communities in Israel
Bedouin Arabs =>
 Appr. 250k, Muslims
 Belong to some 30 tribes, a majority scattered over a wide area in the South
Minority Communities in Israel
 Formerly nomadic shepherds,
the Bedouin are currently in
transition from a tribal social
framework to a permanently
settled society and are
gradually entering Israel’s
labor force
Christian Arabs =>
 Some 123k, live mainly in urban areas (e.g. Nazareth, Shfar’am, and Haifa)
 The majority are affiliated with the Greek Catholic, Greek Orthodox and
Roman Catholic churches
Minority Communities in Israel
The Arameans =>
 Ancient nationality, small minority (200 families)
 Recognized as a Christian non Arab minority since
2014
 Distinguishing between Christian and Muslim
citizens of Israel- why?
The Druze =>
 Tradition dates back to the 11th century and incorporates elements of
Islam, Hinduism and even classical Greek philosophy
 Some 122k Arabic-speakers living in 22 villages in the northern regions
of the Galilee, Carmel and the Golan Heights
Minority Communities in Israel
 Constitute a separate cultural, social,
and religious community
 Israeli Druze rarely marry across
religious lines
The Druze =>
Minority Communities in Israel
 The Druze tradition has been closed off to outsiders and proselytism has
been prohibited. Since that ban, the Druze population has continued to
exist solely based on the continuation of its previous generations
 While the Druze religion is not accessible to non practitioners, one
known aspect of it is taqiyya- complete loyalty and adherents to the
government of the country in which they reside
 In Israel, the Druze are active in public life and subject to the military
draft (in contrast with Israeli Arabs, who are exempt from military
service)
Cherkassy/Circassians =>
Minority Communities in Israel
 Originate in the Caucasus
 Invaded by the Russians in the 19th century
 The Cherkassy community felt threatened
 The Ottoman Empire (ruled Palestine)
considered the Cherkazi to be good allies
(good fighters, could protect their interests in
Palestine)
 Invited them to come over + gave them land in
the Galilee
The Caucasus is an area
situated between the Black
Sea and the Caspian Sea,
occupied by Russia, Georgia,
Azerbaijan & Armenia
Cherkassy/Circassians =>
Minorities in Israel
 (Sunni) Muslims but not Arabs
 Share neither the Arab origin nor the cultural background of the larger
Islamic community
 Around 4,000 Cherkassy living in 2 main villages in the Galilee
 While maintaining a distinct ethnic identity, they participate in Israel’s
economic and national affairs without assimilating either into Jewish
society or into the Muslim community
 Mandatory army service (for men)
 Education systems are in Hebrew, Cherkassic and Arabic
Religious groups in Israel => Achmadim
 ‘New’ religion (19th Century), originated in India
 A combination of several religions, mostly Islam, Hindu, and
Christianity
 Do not accept the Jihhad (Holy War) aspect of Islam
 Urban, live in Haifa, around 2k people
Minorities in Israel
Arab Israelis
Arab Community Life =>
 Israel’s Arab community is essentially non-assimilating
 The community’s distinct identity is facilitated through:
 The use of Arabic (Israel’s second official language)
 A separate Arab/Druze school system
 Arabic mass media, literature, and theater
 Maintenance of independent Muslim, Druze, and Christian
denominational courts which adjudicate matters of personal status
Galillee
750,000
Triangle
750,000
Negev
250,000
The Arab
Minority
in Israel
WestBank
Gaza Strip
Total Arab Population:
1,800,000, 2016
Arabs in mixed
Cities: (Acre,
Haifa, Jaffa,
Ramla, Lod)
180,000
Jordan
Egypt
Arab Israelis
Arab Community Life =>
 Late 19th century: when Jewish immigration stimulated economic growth,
many Arabs were attracted to the area by its employment opportunities,
higher wages, and better living conditions
 The majority of Israel’s Arab population lives in self-contained towns and
villages in Galilee, including the city of Nazareth, the central area
between Hadera and Petah Tikva, the Negev, and in mixed urban centers
(Jerusalem, Acre, Haifa, Lod, Ramle, and Jaffa)
Israeli Arabs:
Between Citizenship & Palestinian Nationalism
 Before 1967 =>
 1956: The shock of Kafr Qasim Massacre
 Took place in an Israeli Arab village, situated on the
(former) border with Jordan
 Carried out by the Israel Border Police who killed Arab
civilians returning from work during a curfew, imposed
earlier in the day, on the eve of the Sinai war, of which they
were unaware
 48 people were killed, among which women and children
 The border policemen involved in the shooting were brought to trial, found guilty
and sentenced to prison terms (all were pardons and released within a year)
 The Israeli court found that the command to kill civilians was “blatantly illegal”
 December 2007: President Shimon Peres formally apologized for the massacre
 Before 1967 =>
 Softening restrictions
 1966 final abolition of military regime
 Gradual mutual rapprochement
 Growing political involvement
 Post 1967 =>
 Growing awareness of discrimination
 Problem of division between national consciousness and loyal citizenship
 1976 – First “Land Day”
Israeli Arabs:
Between Citizenship & Palestinian Nationalism
 March 30th, 1976 => First ‘Land Day’
 In response to the Israeli government's announcement of a plan to expropriate
thousands of dunams of land for state purposes, a general strike and marches
were organized in Arab towns in Israel
 Confrontations with the Israeli army and police resulted in dozens of wounded
Arab Israelis, 6 were killed, many arrested
 Acknowledged as a pivotal event in the struggle
over land and in the relationship of Arab citizens
to the Israeli state. It was the first time since
1948 that Arab Israelis organized a response to
Israeli policies as a Palestinian national collective
 Marked annually by Arab Israeli + Palestinians
ever since
Israeli Arabs:
Between Citizenship & Palestinian Nationalism
Between two loyalties =>
 1987-1993: The first Intifada
 Palestinian pressure to join
 Israel tightening security = separation
 Post Oslo Era (1993)
 Growing hopes for solving the dilemma
Israeli Arabs:
Between Citizenship & Palestinian Nationalism
Escalating Problem=>
 1995: Rabin’s assassination
 2000: Camp David Summit: an effort to end the conflict filed
 The Second/Al Aqsa Intifada (2000-2005) Palestinian uprising against Israel
 The October 2000 events- series of protests in Arab cities and towns in northern
Israel that turned violent, escalating into rioting by Israeli Arabs throughout Israel,
led to counter-rioting by Israeli Jews + clashes with the Israeli Police
 Resulted in the death of 13 Arab demonstrators
 The ‘Or Commission’ was established to investigate the police response to the
rioting
 Israeli Arabs demand to define Israel as a non-Jewish nation => Removing Jewish
state symbols
Israeli Arabs:
Between Citizenship & Palestinian Nationalism
Arab Israelis
Arab Community Life =>
 Compulsory education + participation in Israel’s democratic processes
are rapidly affecting traditional outlooks and lifestyles
 Gradual weakening of tribal and patriarchal authority
 Israeli Arab women: significantly liberalized by legislation stipulating
equal rights + prohibition of polygamy and child marriage
 The political involvement of the Arab sector is manifested in national and
municipal elections
 Arabs run political + administrative affairs in their own municipalities and
represent Arab interests through their elected representatives in the Knesset
Arab Israelis
Arab Community Life =>
 Since Israel’s establishment, Arab citizens have been exempted from
compulsory service in the IDF
 Out of consideration for their family, religious, and cultural affiliations with
the Arab world (which has subjected Israel to frequent attacks)
 Out of concern over possible dual loyalties
 Volunteer military service is encouraged
 Since 1957, at the request of their community leaders, IDF service has
been mandatory for Druze and Circassian men, while the number of
Bedouin joining the career army voluntarily increases steadily
Arab Israelis
Arab/Jewish Dynamics =>
 Development of inter-group relations between Israel’s Arabs and Jews
has been hindered by deeply-rooted differences in religion, values, and
political beliefs
 Co-exist as two self-segregated communities
 Contact and segregation
 As a multi-ethnic, multicultural, multi-religious, and multi-lingual society,
Israel has a high level of informal segregation patterns (groups are not
separated by official policy but keep apart)
Arab Israelis
Arab/Jewish Dynamics =>
 Arab citizens exist on the margins of the conflicting worlds of Jews and
Palestinians
 While remaining a segment of the Arab people (in culture and identity)
and disputing Israel’s identification as a Jewish state, they see their future
tied to Israel
 Adopted Hebrew as a second language and Israeli culture as an extra layer
in their lives
 Exhibit patriotism
 Strive to attain a higher degree of participation in national life, greater
integration into the economy and more benefits for their own towns/villages
Arab Israelis
Arab/Jewish Dynamics =>
 Despite a fairly high degree of social cleavage, economic disparities and
heated political life, the Israeli society is relatively stable
 The low level of social conflict between the different groups
(notwithstanding an inherent potential for social unrest) can be attributed to
the country’s judicial and political systems, which represent strict legal
and civic equality
 From a melting pot society to a mosaic society
 Made up of different population groups coexisting in the framework of a
democratic state
Caught between a rock and a hard place
 Non-Jews, excluded from the Israel society insofar that
it revolves around a Jewish common denominator
 Some identify as Palestinians, actively support the
Palestinian cause
 Often fact discrimination
 High living standards and freedoms compared to
neighbor states
 ‘Shared destiny’ after 70 years- relative coexistence
 Cultural similarities + secularization => inclusion?
Israeli Arabs:
Between Citizenship & Palestinian Nationalism
Reite, Syracuse University
Press, 2009
Arab Israelis
Arab Community Life =>
 The Israeli police force welcomed its first Muslim-Arab deputy police
commissioner in February 2016
 Is heading a new division within the Israeli police force, tasked with
promoting law enforcement in Israel’s Arab sector and recruiting fellow
Muslims and/or Arabs to join the force
Next Session...
45
 Religion and Army in Israel
46
Thank You For Your Attention!
Questions???