When filming, I spend a lot of time sitting in the car while the crew is getting a particular shot. In the Holy Land, there are fascinating things to observe wherever you pull over. And with the luxury of a local guide at my side, all of my questions can be addressed. Roughly a fifth of all Israelis are not Jewish, but Arab Israelis — mostly Muslim. While they have equal rights on paper, most Arab Israelis would say they feel like second-class citizens. But in this clip, our guide Abie explains how, in one interesting way, Arab Israelis have more rights than Jewish Israelis.
If you can’t see the video below, watch it on YouTube.
Comments
Steve, I live in Rome and love your Italy series; thanks for those, and THIS!! I am Palestinian and I always tell the main comentators and opinsters and friends that they must visit Palestine and Israel because that is the only way of understanding one of the most profound conflicts and contradicts of humans today- I think it is important to know what is done in your and our names; to understand this particular conflict and its implications for the confluence of East and West; and to better understand what man is capable of (resilience plus man-made conflict).
In this particular case I beg to differ. Arab Israelis do not have the right, but the will, to cross into the West Bank (probably not into Gaza); and while theoretically it is true that Arab Israelis have the possibility to work in the interface between Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews, it is not work anyone really wants. So many young Palestinians look for illicit ways of getting to Israel for the better paying jobs; and Israeli Arabs are at a disadvantage in finding jobs in Israel relative to Israeli Jews. So it’s not untrue, but theoretical.
Many thanks again.
Much love
PEACE
Sorry I meant to say many, not main, commentators. Everyone has an opinion on the conflict, but not much real knowledge. Nothing beats a visit to see for oneself.