ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the attitudes of Jews and Arabs in Israel toward the current influx of Soviet Jewish immigration, at both the leadership and the public levels. It discusses the real impact of the Arab citizens on the political system in Israel. The chapter analyses the attitudes of leadership and public among Arabs and Jews in Israel toward the present influx of Soviet immigration. It shows that the receptivity of both groups to the immigrants is affected by considerations operating at the ideological level, group status level and individual level. Soviet immigration is expected to have a far reaching effect on the demographic structure of Israel. More than opposing Soviet immigration, Arab leaders attempt to use this issue as a vehicle for demonstrating discrimination against Arab citizens. The use of Soviet immigrants to change the demographic situation is implemented very rapidly.
