‘48 | Citizens of Israel

At the end of the 1948 war, the territory claimed by the newly established State of Israel included areas and towns where local Palestinians still resided. These locals, numbering 150,000 at the time, lived in towns that were spared or surrendered, or were ‘internally displaced’ and found refuge in these towns after being expelled from other destroyed villages. They preferred to stay on their own land rather than evacuate, despite the fact that their land had become part of the newly established State of Israel. Thus, the community came to be known as “Arab 48,” referring to the Arab population that became part of the State of Israel in 1948.

This community was feared by the newly established State as a potential fifth column and was placed under martial law, which lasted until 1966. These laws included a complete siege of the Arab towns, preventing anyone from leaving without a permit from the Israeli army. Additionally, curfews were imposed on farmers, requiring them to return home by certain hours, which could be changed at any moment. Breaking the curfews resulted in arrests or even death. This led to many atrocities, most notably the horrific Massacre of Kafr Qassem in 1956, which was denied recognition by the State for decades. In 2021, the Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited the memorial site, and issued an official recognition and apology in the name of the State of Israel to the people of Kafr Qassem.

Due to both local pressure from the Israeli left and international community, the last of the martial laws were lifted in 1966, granting this community full citizenship in the State. The name bestowed upon this community was “Arab Israelis” or “Israeli Arabs.” This title was not a mere coincidence; it was created by design to separate the local community from the rest of the Palestinian peoplehood. Separated by borders, these communities of Palestinians were divided between Palestinian Citizens of Israel, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, and refugees. As a result, families were separated by these borders, with members of the same family living on different sides of the border. However, the Palestinian identity itself is not officially recognized in Israel.

Today, the population of Palestinian Citizens of Israel is over 2 million. Therefore, one-fifth of the Israeli population is Palestinian Citizens. Despite the efforts of the State to separate this community’s identity from the rest of the Palestinian people, the vast majority of this community maintains its Palestinian roots, culture, and sense of belonging to the Palestinian peoplehood while being Israeli citizens.

Terminology:

• Arab Citizens of Israel: This term refers to the entire Arabic-speaking population in Israel. It includes Palestinian Citizens as well as Arab communities that do not see themselves as Palestinians but are Arabic-speaking, such as the majority of the Druze community and a minority of Bedouins, Christians, and Muslims.
• Palestinian Citizens of Israel: The Arab community that is part of the Palestinian people and history, and refuses to detach itself from the Palestinian story.
• Palestinian Israelis: Palestinian citizens who are part of the Palestinian peoplehood, but also see themselves as members of Israeli society.
• Israeli Arabs/Arab Israelis: Arab Citizens of Israel who see themselves as only Israeli and do not identify as Palestinians or as part of the Palestinian story and history.