Tensions Rise for Palestinian Citizens of Israel After Gaza War

Strategic Insights -

As the war in Gaza continues to unfold, Palestinian citizens of Israel are finding themselves living in an atmosphere of fear, with many reporting increased tensions and harassment from Jewish Israelis. Despite making up a fifth of the Israeli population, Palestinians who remained in their homes after the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 have long faced military rule and institutionalized racism. Today, they live and work alongside Jewish Israelis, speaking fluent Arabic and Hebrew, but their experiences of the war in Gaza have exacerbated existing tensions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up a fifth of the Israeli population, have reported increased harassment and tension from Jewish Israelis since the war in Gaza began.
  • Many Palestinian citizens have lost Jewish customers since the war, with some reporting that they are viewed with suspicion by their Jewish neighbors.
  • At least 84 indictments of incitement to terrorism have been filed against Arab citizens of Israel between 2018 and 2022, with this number doubling since the outbreak of the war.
  • Palestinian citizens are being charged with incitement to terrorism for social media posts supporting an end to the war, with many fearing arrest and harm.
  • The Israeli Parliament's research division has reported an increase in hate crimes against Palestinian citizens of Israel, with many Arab women facing verbal and physical attacks on public transportation.
  • A prominent Jaffa politician, Sami Abu Shehadeh, has been physically and verbally attacked on the streets, while many Palestinian citizens are afraid to go to hospitals or seek medical care due to fear of harassment.
  • The Israeli Justice Department has not responded to NPR's request for comment regarding the treatment of Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Statistics:

  • 84 indictments of incitement to terrorism have been filed against Arab citizens of Israel between 2018 and 2022, with this number doubling since the outbreak of the war.
  • The Israeli Parliament's research division has reported an increase in hate crimes against Palestinian citizens of Israel.
  • 10 months of house arrest have been served by Ahmed Khelefe, a human rights lawyer who was arrested during an anti-war demonstration and charged with incitement to terrorism.
  • 1 in 5 of the Israeli population are Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Sources:

  • NPR News, "Tensions Rise for Palestinian Citizens of Israel After Gaza War" (exact quote)
  • Israel's police commissioner, Kobi Shabtai, (exact quote)
  • Adalah, a human rights organization (exact mention)
  • Israeli Parliament's research division (exact mention)
  • The State of The World podcast by NPR (exact mention)