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Originally Posted by blankall
Arab citizens of Israel have full equal rights. In fact the most successful and educated group in Israel are the Christmas Arabs, who are the least likely to live a constructive religious lifestyle of the three major religions.
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On paper. Ish.
From the Or Commission:
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The Arab citizens of Israel live in a reality in which they experience discrimination as Arabs. This inequality has been documented in a large number of professional surveys and studies, has been confirmed in court judgments and government resolutions, and has also found expression in reports by the state comptroller and in other official documents. Although the Jewish majority's awareness of this discrimination is often quite low, it plays a central role in the sensibilities and attitudes of Arab citizens. This discrimination is widely accepted, both within the Arab sector and outside it, and by official assessments, as a chief cause of agitation.
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The existence of the JNF and coupled abuse of the Absentee Property Law has meant that a bunch of land is reserved for Jewish use only. That is something which just isn't legal in most developed countries.
Immigration laws are also completely unequal for Jews and non-Jews.
The parallels between this and Norther Ireland are actually pretty striking. Same deal there, a police force that selectively enforced laws on one side of the conflict, and housing and hiring practices that created exclusion, despite supposed equal rights.
Is Israel better for minority rights than anywhere else in the region? By an absolute long shot. They are the shining star of open society in the Middle East. That doesn't mean they should stop short, however. I think things can just get better if they progress down this path.