Ramadan, Passover, Terror Attacks, and Government Instability – Recent Months in Jewish-Arab Relations in Israel

The last few months in Israel have seen a confluence of events raising tensions in the country’s JewishArab relations. In the leadup and during the already sensitive time of Ramadan and Passover, terror attacks, instability surrounding Israel’s governing coalition, and escalations in East Jerusalem have heightened the sense of uncertainty as well as concerns about renewed intercommunal violence— especially with the approaching anniversary of the May 2021 events.

The fact that none of these events have spiraled out into wider conflict reinforces what journalist Jack Khoury refers to as the ‘deterrent’ effect of last year’s events on both Jews and Arabs. Still, responses to the tensions and provocative events shed light on the complex and competing realities affecting JewishArab relations. Arab citizens’ have been pushing for greater civic inclusion, visibility, security, and influence within Israel; at the same time, since last May and before, do not wish to achieve these things at the cost of expressing their Palestinian identity.

With an Arab party in a governing coalition for the first time, national crises that touch issues of inclusion, national identity, and security have become more challenging to navigate. The following update highlights how the recent wave of terror and escalations in East Jerusalem have emphasized these complications, and some of the implications for Arab parties in and outside of the coalition.

Click the link to view the update. Please share with your colleagues and constituents and reach out for further discussion.