What impact did Israel have on Arabs?

Answer 1

It depends on which Arabs are being discussed.

Arabs within 1949-Israel: These are the Arabs most strongly impacted by the State of Israel. They received Israeli citizenship and began to have an active voice in Israeli politics. Initially, there was a strong divide between ethnic Palestinians (who make up most of the Israeli Arabs) and the other Arab minorities such as the Bedouin and the Druze. The Arab minorities almost immediately considered the Establishment of the State of Israel a golden event since Israel made efforts to protect them and their culture beyond what any Arab or Turkish State had in recent memory. (This is not to say that the situation was perfect or completely equal, but it was better than anywhere else, so they were willing to support it.) The ethnic Palestinians took the position of conscientious objectors and used the freedoms and civil rights granted in Israel to organize marches and rallies to discuss how they feel about the general Palestinian situation. In recent decades, more and more ethnic Palestinian Israelis have become more patriotic to Israel, resulting in some enlistment in the army and a general agreement that they would be willing to support the state if it came to that.

Arabs in the Palestinian Territories: The Arabs in the Palestinian Territories (all of whom consider themselves Palestinians) were denied their rights and freedoms under both Arab Occupation (Jordan and Egypt) and Israeli Occupation. The State of Israel directly affected their situation because its independence (and their choice not to respond with their own Declaration of Independence) resulted in the subjugation of these lands to the border wars between Israel and Jordan or Israel and Egypt. With the beginning of Israeli Period, and to this day, there is a military occupation of the territories, combined with increased settlement of the area by Israeli Citizens who enjoy extraterritoriality. Palestinians have revolted in what are called the Intifadas and pressed for increased diplomatic recognition. They have received some, but are unsatisfied with what they have received, because it's less than what they deserve and press for more of the West Bank areas. Israel currently blockades the Gaza Strip and maintains soldiers controlling the West Bank.

Palestinian Arabs who fled the Mandate of Palestine:After 1948, numerous Palestinians fled into the neighboring Arab States. This has resulted in a refugee crisis which the Arab States are only too willing to worsen. Most Palestinians, and even their children born on non-Palestinian ground, are not considered citizens of those countries and are not allowed to leave the refugee camp. This is done because many Arab governments would rather watch Palestinians suffer in refugee camps in order to use them as pawns against Israel than to let them integrate into Arab society at large. This issue is most prominent in Lebanon and Syria.

There have been several Arab-Palestinian Battles (most prominently the Jordanian Palestinian uprising of Black September and the Lebanese Civil War of 1975-1991) and intermittent and long periods of Palestinian mistreatment at Arab hands. In fact, more Palestinians have died as a result of the Arab-Palestinian Conflict than the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict to date.

Non-Palestinian Arabs in Countries Bordering Israel:Israel has been in numerous wars with the Arab States along its border and is therefore responsible for numerous Arab military deaths and defeats.

Arabs in Other Arab Countries: Nearly every Arab country has used the conflict with Israel as a scapegoat for why they have a right to repress their population and treat them mercilessly. Of course, it's obvious that the two are not linked for a few reasons, like how Israel has democracy even though its constantly engaged in the same war and the USA has democracy even though its perpetually at war, etc. However, most Arabs prefer to be incensed about Israel since it was the only thing allowed to them. With the Arab Spring, many Arabs have redirected their anger where it actually belongs, their own governments, but it took them so long to do it.

Arabs in non-Arab Countries: It gave them a way to sympathize with their brethren in Arab countries and a unifying political issue. It has also served to distract them from petitioning Arab governments to improve human rights, civil rights, and more open and free governing procedures.