Arab civil society and education in Israel: the Arab Pedagogical Council as a contentious performance to achieve national recognition

Abstract

Focusing on recent developments in the field of education, this article grapples with the educational activism of Arab civil society in Israel. Specifically, it presents a case study of a recent initiative to establish an independent Arab Pedagogical Council (APC). I argue that this initiative, although controversial and challenging to the very definition of Israel as both a Jewish nation-state and a democracy, should be considered to be an act of citizenship, rather than a sign of radicalization and separatism. The initiative to establish the APC is a political and ethical act, through which Arab civil society organizations and activists in Israel constitute themselves as independent political actors, citizens, and claimants of rights, entitlements, and responsibilities for the quality of life and future of the Palestinians in Israel.

Keywords:

• Arab civil society
• education policy
• citizenship acts
• Israel
• Palestinian identity

Notes

1. For the purposes of full disclosure, I note here that I have been involved in advancing this initiative in its early stages.

2. These include: Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (2007). The Democratic Constitution; Mada al-Carmel Center (2007). The Haifa Declaration; Mossawa Document (2006). An Equal Constitution for All? On a Constitution and Collective Rights for Arab Citizens in Israel. Nazareth, Mossawa Center; The National Heads of the Arab Local Authorities in Israel (2006). The Future Vision of the Palestinians in Israel. See more on these documents in Agbaria and Mustafa (2012) and Jamal (2008).

3. State Education Law, 5713–1953, 7 LSI 113 (1952–53) (Isr.). There were several amendments to the statute. A consolidated Hebrew version is available at: http://www.education.gov.il/zchuyot/chukim4.htm.

4. This section draws insights from the following founding documents of the APC. All were produced through the FUCAE. These documents include Follow-Up Committee on Arab Education (FUCAE) (2008a, 2008b, 2008c); See more on the establishing of the APC in Jabareen and Agbaria (2010, 52–68).

5. See more about Hakol Hinuch at http://www.hakoled.org.il/?p=369.