Creative Education, 2023, 14, 2531-2557
https://www.scirp.org/journal/ce
ISSN Online: 2151-4771
ISSN Print: 2151-4755
DOI: 10.4236/ce.2023.1412163 Dec. 27, 2023 2531 Creative Education
Israel’s Education Policy toward the Arab
Education System from a Historical
Perspective from 1948 to 2022
Jamal Abu-Hussain
Al-Qasemi Academy, Baqa Algarbeya, Israel
Abstract
The article examines the educational policy of the Israeli governments to-
wards the Arab education system and the implications of this policy on the
status and achievements of that system. Based on a theoretical background
describing the relations between Israel as a Jewish state and the indigenous
Arab minority, the study focuses on four main historical eras: 1) that of the
Military Administration period (1948-1966); 2) the “melting pot” period
(1967-1999); 3) After “Al-Aqsa Events” 2000 through 2017; and 4) Between
the years 2018 (Nationality Law) and 2022. Drawing on the analytical frame-
work designed by Lauen & Tyson (2009). The findings of the study demon-
strate the existence of understandable patterns of inequality on the basis of
ethnicity and possible relationship between national ethnic affiliation in Israel
and education policymaking for the education system of Arab minority. The
article offers insights, conclusions, and recommendations for the future.
Keywords
Education Policy, Arab Education System in Israel, Arab Minority
1. Introduction
Israeli society is a divided society, on an ethnic, national, religious and political
background. The deepest rift is between Jews and Arabs (Smuha, 2001). The
balance of power between the two groups is unequal and the declaration of the
State of Israel as a Jewish state has made the Arabs an ethnic national minority
that is not equal to the Jewish majority group (Yaar & Shavit, 2001). Most re-
cently, in July 2018, the Nationality Law was approved in the Knesset, which
anchors Jewish national values of the State of Israel. Arabs in Israel are subject to
How to cite this paper: Abu-Hussain, J.
(2023). Israel’s Education Policy toward the
Arab Education System from a Historical
Perspective from 1948 to 2022. Creative
Education, 14, 2531-2557.
https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2023.1412163
Received: November 29, 2023
Accepted: December 24, 2023
Published: December 27, 2023
Copyright © 2023 by author(s) and
Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution International
License (CC BY 4.0).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Open Access