Developing and maintaining positive and cooperative relations between the Arab and Jewish peoples of Israel has long been of the utmost importance, especially after October 7, 2023.
As Israelis continue to deal with the fallout from Hamas’ brutal attacks, the atmosphere in Israel remains relatively calm. Fears of a repeat of the violence between Arabs and Jews that erupted in May 2021 after Hamas fired rockets and missiles into Israel have not materialized. Still, many who have long been immersed in building a shared society, where promoting mutual understanding and building partnerships have proven essential to strengthening majority-minority relations and Israel’s democracy. , are deeply concerned.
“Most of us are pessimistic and think the worst is yet to come,” says Michal Serra, executive director of Givat Habiba, one of the leading organizations promoting Jewish-Arab relations. . According to Givat Habiba’s latest survey, 72% of Jews and 50% of Arabs are currently pessimistic about the prospects for Jewish-Arab coexistence in Israel, while 21% of Jews and 50% of Arabs 27% are optimistic.
“We are all Israelis. We feel very scared and unsafe,” Sera continues. “Israel is a very small country. The level of anxiety within families is very high. It affects the way we see each other, the way we live our lives, the way we raise our children. It is our reality. has a big impact.”
Changes in consciousness since the war began
The survey found that 77% of Jews and 62% of Arabs believe the events of October 7 have made them feel less safe. Only 1% of Jews and 3% of Arabs said their sense of safety had changed, while 20% of each community said their sense of safety had remained the same.
Both Jews and Arabs are victims of Hamas, among those killed and taken to Gaza by rockets fired from Gaza and by violent terrorists who crossed into Israel, Suspicions are growing rapidly. The survey, conducted from December 27, 2023 to January 2, 2024, found that 34% of Israeli Jews trust most Arab citizens, while 63% do not. There was found. By contrast, 50% of Israeli Arabs trust most of their fellow Jews, while 29% distrust them.
“It’s normal to feel safe in your own group and not be able to reach out, especially in times of crisis,” Serra said. Fifty-six percent of Jews surveyed said their attitudes toward Arab citizens had gotten worse since October 7, 4% said they had gotten better, and 37% said they had not changed. Among Arabs surveyed, 22% said their attitudes toward Jews had gotten worse, 6% said they had gotten better, and 49% said they had remained the same.
Hamas’ fourth conflict against Israel since the terrorist group violently seized control of the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian Authority in 2007 risks damaging relations between Jews and Arabs in Israel. But the Givat Habiba poll conducted by the Midgam Institute found important evidence. Recent gains in the development of shared societies can be sustained and expanded.
After decades of efforts by non-governmental organizations actively working on Jewish-Arab relations, the Israeli government has invested heavily in a five-year development plan for Arab citizens starting in 2015 and has expanded higher education , brought about significant advances in employment, education, housing, and living conditions. Transportation facilities. These programs facilitated the integration of Arab citizens into Israeli society and strengthened their ties not only with the government but also with their fellow Jews.
The agreement between Jews and Arabs that intergroup interaction has positive effects is another point of hope in the Givat Habiba study. 62% of Jews and 72% of Arabs say workplace interaction improves Jewish-Arab relations, compared to 27% of Jews and 11% of Arabs who say it worsens relations. The respondents answered that they are doing so. Regarding relationships in higher education, 41% of Jews and 65% of Arabs said their relationships had improved, while 46% of Jews and 15% of Arabs said their relationships had worsened. The answer is yes.
The full implementation of the current five-year plan, Government Resolution 550, launched in November 2021 is at risk. Even before October 7, coalition members had supported cuts to previously approved budgets for Arab communities. The central government’s announcement last month that it plans to cut established multi-year commitments to programs for Arab citizens by at least 15% appears to be gaining support. A Givat Habiba survey found that Jews are deeply divided over the value of investing in the Arab minority. 42% say the state should invest as much as necessary in Israel’s Arab community, while 23% say the state should invest less and 19% say the government should not invest in Arab citizens at all. .
Disinvesting from the Arab minority is likely to have a negative impact on the important healing process for Israel’s Arabs and Jews, both within their own communities and in their future relationships with each other. Givat Habiba’s strategic director Mohammad Darousheh said it took 10 years to recover after the killing of 13 Arabs by Israeli police in October 2000. Six people were also killed and hundreds injured during days of inter-communal violence, particularly civil war. In the May 2021 Jewish-Arab clashes, the healing process in the mixed city was interrupted by the October 7 attack.
“The road to a better future will be long. It will take a lot of effort to rehumanize each other,” Serra says. Despite ominous government budget cuts, Givat Habiba has doubled down on its engagement with both Arab and Jewish populations, continuing to implement educational programs and working with local government leaders in both communities. ing.
It has long been recognized by civil society organizations and governments as highly beneficial to foster positive interactions between Jews and Arabs throughout Israeli society and to promote the integration of Israel’s Arab population. American Jewish organizations should strongly support investments in Arab citizens and programs for Jewish-Arab coexistence, opposing the threat of cuts that have become groundbreaking efforts in recent years.
Maintaining Jewish-Arab relations in Israel is an urgent imperative essential to the country’s well-being.
The author served as director of media relations for the American Jewish Committee from 1998 to 2023.