(LAW) PALESTINIAN CITIZENS OF ISRAEL
AND RUSSIAN ISRAELIS
, Introduction
The Israeli government has strived to achieve inclusivity and religious tolerance among
different ethnic groups in Israel since 1948. For instance, David Ben Gurion gave a speech that
evidenced his desire for a united country shortly after Israel won the war of Independence and
Palestine’s Nakba in 1948. While addressing the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Gurion implied
that Israel must strive to eliminate ethnic barriers to become a strong, unified nation. He further
suggested a need to ensure that the immigrants into the country were assimilated into the Jewish
society. On the contrary, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs created a pamphlet to celebrate
Israel’s diversity which portrayed the country as a land that was made up of different ethnic,
religious, and social groups. The ministry further used the pamphlet to demonstrate that Israel
was committed to ensuring equality among its diverse populations. Nevertheless, an analysis of
different demographic groups in Israel reveals that the two models only fit the experience of
some groups in Israel. Notably, both models do not fit the experience of Palestinian citizens in
Israel while only the Israeli Foreign Affairs model fits the experience of Russian Israelis.
Palestinian Citizens of Israel
Both Ben Guiron’s model of assimilation and the Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
model of diversity do not seem to fit the Palestine citizens’ experience in Israel. Notably, both
Jews and Palestinians have been entangled in an intense conflict since 1948 after the creation of
the Israel State. Consequently, both groups have continued to lay claim as being the legitimate
owners of the Land of Palestine which covers the current Israel nation. Israel on one hand has
continuously downplayed the calls by pro-Palestinian groups and citizen to have their own
sovereign state.
AND RUSSIAN ISRAELIS
, Introduction
The Israeli government has strived to achieve inclusivity and religious tolerance among
different ethnic groups in Israel since 1948. For instance, David Ben Gurion gave a speech that
evidenced his desire for a united country shortly after Israel won the war of Independence and
Palestine’s Nakba in 1948. While addressing the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Gurion implied
that Israel must strive to eliminate ethnic barriers to become a strong, unified nation. He further
suggested a need to ensure that the immigrants into the country were assimilated into the Jewish
society. On the contrary, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs created a pamphlet to celebrate
Israel’s diversity which portrayed the country as a land that was made up of different ethnic,
religious, and social groups. The ministry further used the pamphlet to demonstrate that Israel
was committed to ensuring equality among its diverse populations. Nevertheless, an analysis of
different demographic groups in Israel reveals that the two models only fit the experience of
some groups in Israel. Notably, both models do not fit the experience of Palestinian citizens in
Israel while only the Israeli Foreign Affairs model fits the experience of Russian Israelis.
Palestinian Citizens of Israel
Both Ben Guiron’s model of assimilation and the Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
model of diversity do not seem to fit the Palestine citizens’ experience in Israel. Notably, both
Jews and Palestinians have been entangled in an intense conflict since 1948 after the creation of
the Israel State. Consequently, both groups have continued to lay claim as being the legitimate
owners of the Land of Palestine which covers the current Israel nation. Israel on one hand has
continuously downplayed the calls by pro-Palestinian groups and citizen to have their own
sovereign state.
