Domestic Issues
From abroad it often appears the peace process is
the all-consuming concern of Israelis, but it really is not. Like
Americans, most Israelis focus much of their attention on their
families, jobs and general well-being. Most domestic problems are
similar in the United States and Israel, but two are unique —
religious-secular relations and the status of Israeli
Arabs. Two other issues that are of shared concern, but have
distinct features in Israel, are the status of women and environmental
protection. Here’s a brief summary of these issues.
Religious-Secular
relations
Unlike many countries in the diaspora, the Reform and Conservative branches of Judaism are very small in Israel; most Jews fall under the category of either
"religious," "secular," or "masorti."
Since Israel is a Jewish and democratic state, there is no separation
of religion and state, which often leads to disagreements on the
amount of state involvement/interference in religion and vice versa.
Many secular Jews want a complete separation of
church and state, the ability to have a civil marriage ceremony and a
secular divorce, both of which are now controlled by the Orthodox establishment. Other areas of disagreement include the closure of
roads, bus routes, restaurants and stores on Shabbat.
On the other hand, ultra-orthodox Jews want to
maintain the status quo and feel that Israel is a Jewish state and
that Judaism should dictate how the country is run. They feel that
having buses on their streets hampers their enjoyment of Shabbat and
that the Orthodox establishment must be in charge of officiating marriages, divorces and conversions or else they might not be valid under Jewish
law.
Most Israeli Jews are masorti and their opinions
lie somewhere in the middle. They want to preserve tradition, but do
not feel bound by it.
Status
of Israeli Arabs
Roughly 18% of Israel’s more than six million
citizens are Arabs. The vast majority (81%) of Israeli
Arabs are Muslims.
Arabs in Israel have equal voting rights; in fact, it is one of the
few places in the Middle East where Arab women may vote. Arabs currently
hold ten seats in the Knesset.
Israeli Arabs have also held various government posts.
Arabic, like Hebrew, is an official language in
Israel. At the time of Israel’s founding, only one Arab high school
was operating, today, there are hundreds of Arab schools. Most Arabs
attend these schools.
The sole legal distinction between Jewish and Arab
citizens of Israel is that the latter are not required to
serve in the Israeli army. This was to spare Arab citizens the need
to take up arms against their brethren. Nevertheless, many Arabs have
volunteered for military duty and the Druze and Circassian communities are subject to the draft.
Some economic and social gaps between Israeli Jews
and Arabs result from the latter not serving in the military.
Veterans qualify for many benefits and jobs not available to
non-veterans. Moreover, the army aids in the socialization process.
On the other hand, Arabs do have an advantage obtaining some jobs
during the years Israelis are in the military. In addition,
industries like construction and trucking have come to be dominated
by Israeli Arabs.
While there is no institutional segregation, Jews
and Arabs have chosen to live separately in all but a handful of
cities. Israelis all recognize that Arab villages have historically
received less funding than Jewish areas and this has affected the
quality of Arab schools, infrastructure and social services. Arabs
are also underrepresented in higher education and most industries.
Israeli Jews and Arabs have surprisingly little
contact with each other. Most young people study at different
elementary and secondary schools and may not come into contact with
one another until college; by then, many preconceived opinions have
been formed. This lack of interaction exacerbates tensions between
the two communities.
Israeli Arabs also face their own conflicts as
Palestinians in a Jewish state. While identifying with the
Palestinian people and disputing Israel's identification as a Jewish
state, they see their future tied to Israel. They have adopted Hebrew
as a second language and Israeli culture as an extra layer in their
lives. At the same time, they strive to attain a higher degree of
participation in national life, greater integration into the economy
and more benefits for their own towns and villages.
Although Israeli Arabs have occasionally been
involved in terrorist activities, they have generally behaved as
loyal citizens. During Israel’s wars, none engaged in acts of
sabotage or disloyalty. In some instances, Arabs volunteered to take
over civilian functions for reservists.
The United States has been independent for well
over 200 years and still has not integrated all of its diverse
communities. It should not be surprising that Israel has not solved
all of its social problems in only 52 years.
Status
of Women
Many strides have been made for Israeli women in
the public sphere; the Women’s Equal Rights Law of 1951 gave women
equal status in property rights, guardianship, estate rights and the
March 2000 amendment gave women equal status in the workforce,
education, health, housing and social welfare. Despite the laws,
women are still underrepresented in the government, Cabinet and
leadership positions in many companies and organizations.
An ongoing conflict concerns access to Israel’s
holy places, specifically the Western
Wall. A separate area is set aside for women, but they have been
prevented from praying collectively. Women at the Wall is a movement
for women who want to pray together and read the Torah at the Wall on a once-a-month basis. They have faced verbal and
physical violence from men (and some women) who believe this behavior
is contrary to halacha (Jewish law). The women recently received permission from the Israeli
Supreme Court to pray in their own manner at the Wall; however, new
legislation introduced by the religious parties may be passed by the
Knesset to nullify the Supreme Court decision.
Meanwhile, religious courts in Israel have control
over personal status issues, such as marriage and divorce, hence, women
cannot initiate divorce proceedings. Many women have to live under
the status of agunah (a
woman who cannot remarry) for months or even years until the husband
is pressured into giving a get (a Jewish divorce).
Domestic violence is another problem faced by many
Israeli women, both religious and secular. Non-governmental
organizations, shelters and hotlines provide support for abused
women.
The
Environment
One issue that cuts across all cleavages in
Israeli society is environmental
protection. Perhaps the most important topic for the environment
and Israel’s long-term survival is access to drinking water.
Water resources are scant and Israel is negotiating to receive water
from Turkey and other outside sources. Low water tables in the Sea
of Galilee affects not only local fish and wildlife, but has also
led to a number of drownings in the summer of 2000.
Because of increased immigration and high birth
rates, Israel’s population is booming and could become one of the most densely populated nations
in the world. Cities are becoming overcrowded and Israel’s open
spaces are rapidly being developed. The growing population has also
led to congestion, groundwater contamination and air pollution.
Recently construction has begun on a new
superhighway to decrease the number of traffic jams and congested
areas. Construction, though, worries environmentalists who are
concerned about the impact this will have on the environment in
between the cities.
Israel also faces the grave problem of waste
management. Until recently, poorly managed dumps across the country
were growing and had become eyesores. Many of the sites have been
shut down or restructured and special garbage cans are now being
distributed to promote recycling.
Israel boasts a rich diversity of plants
and wildlife. Some 2,600 plant species (150 of which are
indigenous to Israel), as well as 8 amphibian, 90 reptile, 450 bird
and 70 mammal species are found in Israel. Stringent laws for the
protection of natural habitats, natural assets, wildlife and sites of
scientific and educational interest have been enacted and are
stringently enforced.
Sources: Israeli
Foreign Ministry |