As an Arab-Israeli, the events of October 7 and the fighting in Gaza have had a deep impact on me and on the entire Arab community in Israel.
These events have spotlighted the complex and complicated dynamics of coexistence, the heavy price that Israeli Arabs have paid and are still paying, and the strong desire of Israeli Arabs to become part of Israeli society. I am.
The nation of Israel is home to a rich culture, religion, and identity. Coexistence is not just an idea. Rather, it is essential to our nation’s strength and resilience. Arabs in Israel make up the majority of the population and play a central role in Israeli society. Our contributions in fields as diverse as healthcare, education and technology are proof of this. However, the path towards coexistence is full of challenges and obstacles.
The massacre of October 7th and the continuing fighting in Gaza have taken a toll on our community and raised the question for all Israeli Arabs: “Are we one in the eyes of our enemies?” answered clearly.
Concerns were growing that this round would lead to violence similar to what we experienced during Operation Wall Guardian in May 2021. But despite these concerns, Arab societies responded with remarkable restraint and maturity.
This reaction was not an accident, but a deliberate choice by a community demonstrating a deep desire for integration and peace. This choice is evidence of our commitment and belief in a common future, where coexistence and mutual respect are paramount. This is a powerful statement that Israel’s Arabs are not sitting on the sidelines, but actively participating in shaping the country’s future.
In the eyes of Hamas, we are all legitimate targets, Jews and Arabs alike.
loss of life and kidnapping of civilians such as Qaid al-Qadi, Bilal al-Ziadna, Hamza al-Ziadna, Aisha al-Ziadna, Yusuf al-Ziadna, and Samer al-Ziadna along with two Jews. Al Taraka’s tragic death hostage is a wound that will take time to heal. These events highlight the fact that in the eyes of a cruel enemy, we are all legitimate targets: Jews, Arabs, Druze, Christians.
“What would happen if…?” is a question that crosses every Israeli Arab’s mind. What will happen to us Israeli Arabs if the enemy comes before us?
For years, many of us refused to believe that we would be targeted by this terrorist organization, Hamas. After all, the organization claims to be an Islamic organization, so harming other Muslims, or even those who are rumored to be Muslims, is an absolute no-no. The Qur’an says, “Whoever kills a believer (Muslim) with an uninitiated intention, his punishment will be hell forever, and Allah will pour out his wrath on him, curse him, and prepare him for tremendous punishment.” (Surah 4:93).
The October 7th massacre provided an answer to this question. Hamas-ISIS has no regard for Islam and murders, rapes, and kidnaps civilians, including Jews and Arabs.
The Story of Sergeant Major (Re)Ahmad Abu Latif is another example of the desire of Israeli Arabs to contribute to and be part of Israeli society. His sacrifice, along with other fallen heroes such as Sergeant Major Ibrahim Halva, Sergeant Habib Kian and Sgt. Salman ibn Marai emphasizes the common destiny of Israel’s Arabs and Jews. They symbolize the unity and resilience of the Israel Defense Forces, which includes Arab and Jewish soldiers who come together to protect the country.
In a chilling post after the October 7 massacre, the late Abu Latif wrote: In doing so, those who do not believe in intersectoral cooperation will threaten, provoke, and seek to destroy relationships, destroying trust. Don’t believe them and don’t let it happen. ”
Many people around the world, posing as human rights activists and under the guise of “concern” for the Palestinians, are spreading lies and conspiracies and trying to provoke conflict between us and our Jewish partners. In the words of Abu Latif, don’t believe them and don’t let it happen.
The author is a project manager at the advocacy organization Diploact.