A History of Modern Palestine by Ilan Pappe

Author:Ilan Pappe
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: kindle123, Economics
ISBN: 9780521864688
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2006-07-24T04:00:00+00:00

THE MARGINALIZATION OF ‘ARABISM’ IN ISRAELI SOCIETY

In the makeshift hut camps for newly arrived immigrants, in the slums of the big towns, and in the newly isolated settlements near the borders, Mizrachi (Arab) Jews did not have time or leisure to deal with past horrors, being preoccupied with their current hardships. The past was even less relevant to the Palestinian citizens confined within the military-ruled areas in Galilee and Wadi Ara’. These Arabs, Jews, Muslims and Christians made up almost half of the overall population of Israel.

The new alliance with Germany, however, spawned new financial realities, increasing the sense of deprivation and dismay. German reparations, while justifiably allowing many European Jews in Israel to prosper, widened the gap between Ashkenazi and Mizrachi Jews even further. The sense of inferiority attached to anyone Arab, whether Jewish or Palestinian, was reinforced by the state’s cultural policy. A monolithic culture of memory developed that repressed the experiences of marginalized groups within society. The economic policy, their exclusion from the cultural canon and their entrenchment on the social and geographical margins of society alienated the Mizrachi Jews, particularly from Morocco, as well as the Israeli Palestinians. Unlike the Palestinian citizens, the Jews from Arab countries had at least the hope of better things to come, of being coached into becoming ‘new Jews’.

The Israeli army spearheaded the effort to Westernize the Arab Jews. However, the general socio-economic divisions also applied inside the army, and Mizrachi Jews, often reluctant conscripts, were given logistical posts, a lasting stain on their prestige and later civilian careers in a society that revered commando fighters and air force pilots. Thus the army promoted militarization instead of acting as an agent of modernization or socialization, and became a significant factor in shaping Israel’s foreign relations within the Middle East. To a large extent it determined the nature of relationships that developed with the few allies Israel could buy, such as Iran and Turkey, who were impressed by its commando units, secret service and developing military industry. Militarist nationalism was thus in constant need of achievement but also required, and was given, enthusiastic feedback from many young Israelis, whose indoctrination was underway from infancy. The hostility of the Arab world around them, revealed everywhere on public stages, radio stations and in the press, was invoked to reinforce the belief that their cause was a just one and to deepen the conviction that no other options were available.

Their common social and economic marginalization did not produce any camaraderie between Moroccan Jews and Palestinians, no doubt due to their differing national aspirations. Arab Jews hoped that emphasizing their Jewish origins would help them to be accepted as ‘authentic’ Zionists, a hope as yet unfulfilled. These Jews wished to be de-Arabized in order to be Israelized; when these hopes failed, they began searching for their Arab roots. This complex relationship between Jews who are ethnically Arabs and the other Jewish groups goes back to the pre-state era. It is best understood if we remember that Jews in the Arab countries were not initially attracted to Zionism in great numbers.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.