Israel and its Arab citizens: Predicaments in the relationship between ethnic states and ethnonational minorities

ABSTRACT This paper considers a case study of an ethnic state and examines the fundamental predicament of its relationship with an ethnonational minority. By considering the relationship between Israel and its Palestinian citizens, the paper demonstrates how Israel fits the definition of a constitutional ethnic state, points to its binational reality and its limited democracy, and examines the dilemmas that emanate from the contradiction between its ethnic and democratic structures. The essence of the dilemma is the clash between the state's ethnic superstructure and the minority's quest for basic human rights such as equality, inclusion and identity that an ethnic state cannot provide. The paper applies human needs theory to argue that improving the conditions of a minority in an ethnic state will not resolve the conflict between an ethnic state and a minority. Similarly, the paper argues that 'ethnic democracy' cannot be a viable option for an ethnonational minority in a multi-ethnic state. The paper examines why the dilemma in the relationship of Israel and its Arab citizens is emerging now and how it can develop into a predicament for the state and the minority, and outlines options for state restructuring in response to the predicament.