ABSTRACT
The Palestinian citizens of Israel are in conflict with the Jewish majority on two central issues: internally there is the problem of the definition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, resulting in marginal civil and national status for the Palestinians in Israel; externally, there is the effect of the continued struggle between Arab states and Israel, influencing the nature of contact between Hebrew and Arabic. The tension in the relations between the State of Israel and its Palestinian citizens does not at its core affect only material demands but pertains to more fundamental issues as well. They are an indigenous group with its own unique historical narrative, one that clashes with the historical narrative of the Jewish majority, especially with respect to issues concerning the conflict since 1948, and such fundamental topics as the land, identity, and the nature of citizenship. These issues have a tremendous impact on the formation and crystallization of the Palestinian identity repertoire in Israel. Arabic is an essential component of identity formation. However, numerous challenges are encountering Arabic in Israel. The diminishing older generation, coupled with Palestinians’ isolation from their Arab brethren in the Arab world, has led to a diminution in the knowledge and use of Arabic. This is accompanied by Hebraization, represented in the pervasive presence of Hebrew encroaching upon proficiency in Arabic. Add to this the forces of globalization which weaken ties to indigenous modes of operating in the world in favor of mainstream culture. Considering the special case of the Arabic language in Israel, the current paper seeks to explore its complex relationship in relation to identity in the conflict-ridden reality in Israel.
