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THE PALESTINIAN ARAB CITIZENS OF ISRAEL In the spring of 1967, the Soviet Union misinformed the Syrian In 1948, only about 150,000 Palestinian Arabs remained in the government that Israeli forces were massing in northern Israel to area that became the State of Israel. They were granted Israeli citi- attack Syria. There was no such Israeli mobilisation. But clashes zenship and the right to vote. But in many respects they were, and —_ between Israel and Syria had been escalating for about a year, and remain, second-class citizens, since Israel defines itself as the state Israeli leaders had publicly declared that it might be necessary to of the Jewish people and Palestinians are non-Jews. bring down the Syrian regime if it failed to end Palestinian com- Until 1966, most of the Palestinian Arabs were subject to a mili- mando attacks against Israel from Syrian territory. tary government that restricted their movement and other rights (to Responding to a Syrian request for assistance, in May 1967 speech, association and so on). Arabs were not permitted to Egyptian troops entered the Sinai Peninsula bordering Israel. A become full members of the Israeli trade union federation, the few days later, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel-Nasser asked the Histadrut, until 1965. About 40 per cent of their lands were confis- UN observer forces stationed between Israel and Egypt to evacuate cated by the state and used for development projects that benefited their positions. The Egyptians then occupied Sharm al-Shaykh at Jews primarily or exclusively. the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula and proclaimed a blockade All of Israel's governments have discriminated against the Arab of the Israeli port of Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba, arguing that access population by allocating far fewer resources to Eilat was through Egyptian territorial for education, health care, public works, waters. These measures shocked and fright- municipal government and economic develop- ened the Israeli public, which believed it was ment to the Arab sector. in danger of annihilation. Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel have had As the military and diplomatic crisis con- a difficult struggle to maintain their cultural tinued, on June 5, 1967 Israel pre-emptively an ptt ty in ata sal | tm 1956, Israel joined | sls! tea sve demon te a national sentiment as subversive. Until 1967, with Britain and France Jordan joined in the fighting belatedly, and th tirely isolated fi the Arab cons tly was attacked by Israel as well. world and were often regarded by other Arabs to attack Egypt, The Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian armies as traitors for living in Israel. Since 1967, ostensibly to reverse the were decisively defeated, and Israel captured many have become more aware of their ° 1 the West Bank from Jordan, the Gaza Strip identity as Palestinians. Egyptian government s and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and the nationalisation of the One important expression of this iden- Golan Heights from Syria. tity was the organisation of a general Suez Canal (then under The 1967 war, which lasted only six French and British strike on March 30, 1976, designated as days, established Israel as the dominant control). Land Day, to protest the continuing con- regional military power. The speed and fiscation of Arab lands. The Israeli thoroughness of Israel's victory discred- security forces killed six Arab citizens ited the Arab regimes. In contrast, the on that day. All Palestinians now com- Palestinian national movement emerged memorate it as a national day. as a major actor after 1967 in the form Many Palestinian Arabs have also of the political and military groups that come to understand that their political made up the Palestine Liberation status as Israeli citizens and their pro- Organization (PLO). tracted contact with Israeli society has differentiated them from other THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES Palestinians. Although most of them The West Bank and the Gaza Strip support the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank — became distinct geographical units as a result of the 1949 armistice and the Gaza Strip, few would pursue the possibility of relocating that divided the new Jewish state of Israel from other parts of there if such a state were to come into existence. Mandate Palestine. From 1948 to 1967, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, THE JUNE 1967 WAR was ruled by Jordan, which annexed the area in 1950 and extended After 1949, although there was an armistice between Israel and _ citizenship to Palestinians living there. During this period, the the Arab states, the conflict continued and the region remained —_ Gaza Strip was under Egyptian military administration. In the 1967 imperilled by the prospect of another war. This was fuelled by an war, Israel captured and occupied these areas along with the Sinai escalating arms race, as countries built up their military caches and _— Peninsula (which it took from Egypt) and the Golan Heights (which prepared their forces (and their populations) for a future show- it captured from Syria). down. Israel established a military administration to govern the In 1956, Israel joined with Britain and France to attack Egypt, Palestinian residents of the occupied West Bank and Gaza. Under ostensibly to reverse the Egyptian government's nationalisation of this arrangement, Palestinians were denied many basic political the Suez Canal (then under French and British control). Israeli rights and civil liberties, including freedom of expression, freedom forces captured Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula, but were forced to of the press and freedom of political association. Palestinian evacuate back to the armistice lines as a result of UN pressure—the nationalism was criminalised as a threat to Israeli security, which lead being taken by the United States and the Soviet Union, in an meant that even displaying the Palestinian national colours was a uncharacteristic show of cooperation to avert further conflict in the punishable act. All aspects of Palestinian life were regulated and Middle East. By the early 1960s, however, the region was becom- often severely restricted by the Israeli military administration. For ing a hot spot of Cold War rivalry as the US and the Soviet Union example, Israel forbade the gathering of wild thyme (za'tar), a were competing with one another for global power and influence. basic element of Palestinian cuisine. In 1956, Israel joined with Britain and France to attack Egypt, Egyptian government's nationalisation of the Suez Canal (then under French and British control). THE JUNE 1967 WAR After 1949, although there was an armistice between Israel and the Arab states, the conflict continued and the region remained imperilled by the prospect of another war. This was fuelled by an escalating arms race, as countries built up their military caches and prepared their forces (and their populations) for a future show- down. In 1956, Israel joined with Britain and France to attack Egypt, ostensibly to reverse the Egyptian government's nationalisation of the Suez Canal (then under French and British control). Israeli forces captured Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula, but were forced to evacuate back to the armistice lines as a result of UN pressure—the lead being taken by the United States and the Soviet Union, in an uncharacteristic show of cooperation to avert further conflict in the Middle East. By the early 1960s, however, the region was becom- ing a hot spot of Cold War rivalry as the US and the Soviet Union were competing with one another for global power and influence. JUNE - JULY 2002 NEXUS ¢ 23 THE PALESTINIAN ARAB CITIZENS OF ISRAEL www.nexusmagazine.com