LOCALS: Conversations with Arab Citizens in Israel

Twenty percent of Israel’s population are Palestinian Arabs, i.e., those who remained inside Israel’s boundaries following the 1948 war. These people are locals, rooted in their land and communities. They are citizens who are integrated into the state’s economy, politics and culture, but are excluded from “the Nation”. Authors Sarah Ozacky-Lazar and Yoav Stern embarked on a journey intended to get to know their Arab Israel neighbors through their personal life stories, dreams, and hopes for the future. Ozacky-Lazar and Stern found people yearning to be listened to, citizens who reject any suggestion to be separate from the state or their land. Despite the harsh difficulties, it was hard to compete with their optimism. Their life stories create a fascinating mosaic of individual-personal narratives, a kind of oral history, one that does not appear in textbooks. This is not a “representative sample” or an “opinion poll,” but rather, a collection of in-depth conversations with private individuals from different walks of life. For the authors, this journey constitutes a mission. They see the Arab citizens as neighbors and partners, with a fierce desire for mutual respect, trust, and strong affinity. The authors believe with all their hearts that there is a way to reach a common understanding. Regarding their work, Ozacky-Lazar and Stern passionately assert, “This book is another small step in the arduous path toward a better future for all of us, the locals, in our shared homeland.” Here’s a listing of the interviews you will find in “Locals”: 1. We’re building, not playing cards Hashem Abd Al-Rahman Mahajne, Umm Al-Fahm 2. If only the entire world looked like Neve Shalom Marwah Jbara Tibi, Taybe/Neve Shalom-Wahat Al-Salam 3. I want to get into the Knesset Alaa Aghbariya, Umm Al-Fahm/Katzir 4. Designer of Memory Mustafa Kabha, Umm Al-Kutuf 5. Yes! We got it! Makhluf Ghanaiem, Baqa Al-Gharbiya 6. Five-star Occupation Abir Kopty, Nazareth/Ramallah 7. Hebrew, a love story Ayman Sikseck, Jaffa 8. Tel Avivian Pride Adeeb