What right is denied to Israel's Arabs?

Answer 1

Issue of Rights

To the knowledge of this contributor, and of his brother, a former US government official now retired in Israel, and of his son-in-law, a native Israeli working as a professional engineer in the south of Israel, there are no citizenship "rights" that are denied to Arabs as compared to Jews.

Particular Issues that Israeli Arabs Face

-- There are some benefits that people receive following military service that are not extended to Arabs because they're excused from military service. In order to make up for this discrepancy there is a voluntary "National Service" program for Arabs. Most of the jobs are in their own communities. After completing this service, they get many benefits similar to veterans of military service.

-- There are allegations that permits to build houses take longer for Arabs, especially in Jerusalem.

-- It's also difficult for Arab towns to get permission to expand beyond their present borders, resulting in overcrowding. (Note: Overcrowding in Arab towns is the result of Israeli-Arab families choosing to grow and/or more Arabs moving into Arab towns in Israel.)

-- Expenditures on public schools in Arab towns may be lower than majority-Jewish public schools elsewhere ... which may be justified since tax revenues from Arab towns are much lower.

These may be examples of prejudice within the bureaucracy, since there are no formal limitations under the law.

Benefits that Arabs have in Israel

Having now directly responded to the negative fishing expedition in the question, it's appropriate to take the opportunity to mention a few additional facts that point up the allegedly sad lot of the Arabs in Israel:

-- The percentage of Arab students in Israeli institutions of higher education is now roughly the same as the percentage of Arabs in the general population.

-- There are large numbers of Arab doctors and nurses who treat both Arab and Jewish patients throughout the Israeli hospital system.

-- The court that found former President Moshe Katzav guilty of wrongdoing and handed down a prison sentence was headed by a Christian Arab from Jaffa. The other two members of the court were women. Readers are invited to log in and list other countries in the region where criminal charges might be brought against a former president without a revolution, or where a court might include women, and Jews, and be headed by a Christian Arab, or by a Christian, or by an ethnic minority not in control of the government.

Answer 2

Issue of Rights

To the knowledge of this contributor, and of his brother, a former US government official now retired in Israel, and of his son-in-law, a native Israeli working as a professional engineer in the south of Israel, there are no citizenship "rights" that are denied to Arabs as compared to Jews.

Particular Issues that Israeli Arabs Face

-- There are some benefits that people receive following military service that are not extended to Arabs because they're excused from military service. In order to make up for this discrepancy there is a voluntary "National Service" program for Arabs. Most of the jobs are in their own communities. After completing this service, they get many benefits similar to veterans of military service.

-- There are allegations that permits to build houses take longer for Arabs, especially in Jerusalem.

-- It's also difficult for Arab towns to get permission to expand beyond their present borders, resulting in overcrowding. (Note: Overcrowding in Arab towns is the result of Israeli-Arab families choosing to grow and/or more Arabs moving into Arab towns in Israel.)

-- Expenditures on public schools in Arab towns may be lower than majority-Jewish public schools elsewhere ... which may be justified since tax revenues from Arab towns are much lower.

These may be examples of prejudice within the bureaucracy, since there are no formal limitations under the law.

Benefits that Arabs have in Israel

Having now directly responded to the negative fishing expedition in the question, it's appropriate to take the opportunity to mention a few additional facts that point up the allegedly sad lot of the Arabs in Israel:

-- The percentage of Arab students in Israeli institutions of higher education is now roughly the same as the percentage of Arabs in the general population.

-- There are large numbers of Arab doctors and nurses who treat both Arab and Jewish patients throughout the Israeli hospital system.

-- The court that found former President Moshe Katzav guilty of wrongdoing and handed down a prison sentence was headed by a Christian Arab from Jaffa. The other two members of the court were women. Readers are invited to log in and list other countries in the region where criminal charges might be brought against a former president without a revolution, or where a court might include women, and Jews, and be headed by a Christian Arab, or by a Christian, or by an ethnic minority not in control of the government.