To be an Arab In Israel

Laurence Louer's book treats an enigmatic, little known but highly important people: Israel's Arab citizens. As she points out, their political influence appears destined to grow, heightening tension with those Jewish Israelis who question their right to full citizenship. Arab political leaders were initially courted by Israeli politicians, especially the Labour Party, which was keen to attract Arab support, and many Arab intellectuals were drawn towards Left politics. In the 1990s Israel's Arabs began to abandon socialism in favour of an accommodation with Islamist parties. Louer also offers a detailed discussion of the Islamist phenomenon in Israel, with its personalities and politics, at a time when Muslim Arabs are finding their voice politically.