Most Arabs prefer living in Israel, accept Jewish character of the state

University of Haifa poll also reveals 80% blame Jews for ‘Nakba’ and lament government discrimination

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By Philip Podolsky 6 June 2012, 8:57 pm Edit

Arab women attend the opening of a new infant care clinic in east Jerusalem in 2011. ( Miriam Alster/Flash90)

A full 68.3 percent of Arabs prefer to live in Israel over any other country in the world, according to a survey carried out by Professor Sammy Smooha of the University of Haifa. The survey, held annually, was conducted among a representative sample of 1,400 Israelis, about half of whom were Arabs.

About 80% of Israeli Arabs blame Jews for the “Nakba,” the “disaster” that befell them in the creation of the state of Israel. However, nearly 60% of them accept Israel as a Jewish-majority state, according to the survey.

The sampling showed that about 73% of Arabs feel that the government treats them as second-class citizens not entitled to equality.

Nearly 58% accept such official Jewish characteristics of Israel as Hebrew being the main language of the country, and Saturday the day of rest.

“Despite the deep rift, there is consensus among most Jews and most Arabs regarding living together in Israel, so there is still a common foundation,” Smooha noted.