Arabs face discrimination, says Israeli Arab Supreme Court judge

Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran criticized the widespread discrimination he says members of Israel’s Arab community suffer in the country and said that the equality mentioned in Israel’s Declaration of Independence for all citizens is sadly not implemented.

“I could talk about equality for hours, whole days but I’d like to quote from the Declaration of Independence and you be the judge; it talks about equality and unfortunately, [there is no equality for non-Jews],” Joubran said at a conference in Eilat Wednesday.

The Supreme Court justice said the discrimination plays out in fields such as education and employment, in the allocation of land and the lack of infrastructure in Arab towns and villages.

Joubran said, however, that part of the blame lies with the elected leaders of the Arab community. “When I complain about the state, I’m also complaining about [us], leaders of the Arab community must also take responsibility and handle problems. They must also fight and demand to meet with ministers [in an effort to] close the gaps.”

On a positive note, the justice said that the community has also made some noted achievements, such as in the establishment of good schools (“which belong to the church, not the state”) advancements in the medical field, which he says has opened its doors to the Arab sector and significant improvement in women’s status.

Joubran’s remarks came amid widespread international and local criticism over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial “Jewish law” bill which seeks to enshrine Israel’s status as a Jewish state with equal rights for all the country’s citizens. The bill, which currently has several versions, has been blasted for elevating Israel’s ‘Jewishness’ over democracy in some of the drafts. Opponents argue that it alienates the country’s non-Jewish citizens, including the Druze and Arab communities.

Netanyahu slammed his critics, vehemently defending the initiative before the Knesset on Wednesday.

Two years ago, Joubran drew criticism from some on the right for remaining silent during the singing of Israel’s national anthem at the conclusion of a Supreme Court swearing-in ceremony. His conduct was defended by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon who said he behaved in a dignified manner and that the criticism was unwarranted.

A Christian-Arab, born in the northern city of Acre, Joubran was the first Israeli Arab to be appointed to the Supreme Court as a full time judge, and was involved in a number of important verdicts. One of those verdicts was sending former president Moshe Katsav to prison for seven years, after convicting him of rape and sexual abuse.