19
communication channels are blocked. The two examples analyzed below are those of
Israeli Arabs and political minority within municipal councils.
Arab Citizens
Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin comprise roughly 20% of Israeli population.
Traditionally, however, this population was regarded as disloyal and sympathetic to
the state’s enemies (Hofnung 1996b: 76-86). Discrimination against Arabs has been a
fact of life, acknowledged by most Israelis. Despite the open admission of such
discrimination, Arabs were unable to use their relative political representation in a
way that would yield tangible gains. Arab politicians were easily marginalized by the
Jewish majority. Prime Ministers preferred to build coalitions that were not based on a
simple majority,
33
but rather on ‘Jewish Majority’, thus avoiding accusations that their
government is illegitimate.
34
In the 5 years of Israel’s existence, Arab parties were
considered only as participants in ad-hoc blocks to thwart right wing governments,
never an equal partner in forming alternative coalitions.
35
Against this backdrop, human rights activists found litigation to be an
effective channel of communicating. The main wheel in the litigation push was
adalah, an independent organization established in 1996 to serve the Israeli Arab
33
61 out of the 120 Knesset Members.
34
Coalition intended to secure “Jewish Majority” were based on assuring two foundations: a) majority
of Knesset seats; b) support of more Jewish Knesset members than those that side with the opposition.
It forced Labor party’s Prime Ministers to pay considerable political price to religious parties whereas
they could have had a much more stable and ideologically coherent coalition by including Arab
Knesset members.
35
The single exception is the coalition agreement of 1992 to which Arab parties added their signature,
and which ensured the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin a parliamentary majority. Yet, even then,
Arab politicians were not invited to join the cabinet. Until this day (2003), there was only one non-
Jewish member in Cabinet: Salah Tarif, who served as a minister without portfolio in 1999-2000.
Convention