ABSTRACT
The study of the Arabic language in Israel is important because it contains dimensions that go beyond the linguistic ones. Regional contexts are no less important than the internal ones mentioned. Israel is surrounded by Arabic-speaking countries, and the Arabic language is a few kilometres away from the Palestinians in Israel. The internal and regional contexts have had an impact on the linguistic repertoire of the Palestinians in Israel. The linguistic changes commenced after the Nakba in 1948 when the Palestinian Arabs lost their urban centres, which were replete with cultural and linguistic vitality. The relationship with the Arab world is versatile: national, religious, historical, linguistic and cultural. The Madrid Conference in October 1991 was held immediately after the Gulf War and the support of several Arab countries of the American campaign against Iraq. The Americans exploited the window of opportunity and set in motion extensive diplomatic involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
