On December 4th 2015 the Mossawa Center will host its annual Legal Status Conference to
discuss the current legal rights of the Arab minority in Israel. MKs, experts, politicians, journalists
and academics from the Arab and Jewish communities will participate in the conference. A
discussion of this nature cannot be found in either the public or CSO arenas. Mossawa’s Legal
Status Conference provides an alternative to conferences dealing only with the Jewish Israeli
narrative of Israel’s legal system; it also incorporates civil society’s input into the Arab
community's legal advocacy work. International actors will also contribute to the debate in the
conference. Amb. Lars Faaborg-Andersen, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to
Israel as well as the H.E. Amb. Shigeo Matsutomi, Ambassador of Japan will address the
conference during opening remarks.
The main panel will be a discussion on the legal status of the Arab community and its role
in designing a shared future vision. The discussion will examine the strategies and terminology
the Arab community will use after the creation of the Joint List as well as the possibilities for out
reach to the Jewish community. MK Dr. Ahmed Tibi, MK Dr. Yousef Jabareen, and MK Dr. Bassel
Ghattas of the Joint List will speak about the creation of the Joint List and the consequenses of
discriminatory legislation. MK Meirav Michaeli will speak on relations between the Arab
community and the Israeli left. Author Muhamed Ali Taha, who was one of the leaders during the
formulation of the Joint List and is involved in talks with the leadership of the Palestinian
territories will also address the role of the Arab community in ending the conflict and
peacebuilding. Mr. Katsunobu Takada, counsellor for the Japanese Embassy will discuss the role
of the International Community for achieving peace and stability in the region. The panel will
discuss the role of Arab community in Israel for this goal as well as how peaceful cooperation
between Israel and the Palestinians would benefit the Arab community by narrowing the gap
between Israel and the Arab community. The main panel will be followed by three simultaneous
interactive panels.
One panel will discuss the impact of Arab citizens appointments in decision making
positions. Debating the issue will be, Adv. Emi Palmor, Director General of the Ministry of
Justice, Adv. Khaled Zoabi Chairman of the Northern district Bar Association and member of the
judicial appointment committee, MK Aida Touma-Sliman and Chair of the Committee on the
Status of Women and Gender Equality and MK. Prof. Yossi Yona, who will also discuss
representation of Mizrahim and relations between the Israeli left and the Arab community. Adv.
Sawsan Qassem, director of the Legal Department of the National Insurance Institute in Haifa
district will discuss the appointment of Arab citizens to senior decision making positions. The
discussion will focus on appointments in the civil sector and the implementation of the law for
equal representation of Arab citizens in employment in government offices.
Another panel will deal with the influence of economic policies on the development of the
Arab community. Participants will discuss the recently approved state budget, the Economic
Arrangements Law, amendments to the Planning and Building Law, and the gas bill, the taxation
law. Taking part in the panel will be MK Abd Al Hakeem Haj Yahya, MK Issawi Frej, and Dr.
Suha Jubran member of the faculty of Law at the University of Haifa and one of the leaders of the
Parents committee for church schools. Attorney Mudar Younis, Mayor of Ar’ara and economists
Iyad Sununu and Ala’ Gantos will present the outline drafted jointly by the Mossawa Center and
the National Committee of Arab Local Authorities on the needed economic development in Arab
towns. Furthermore they will discuss the government plan “to change funding mechanisms”
formulated by the ministry of finance and which has not yet been approved by the government or
presented to the public. Mr. Suheil Qaram, Director of Radio Shams will address the media
coverage of economic issues in the Arab press. The panel will also discuss the implications of
media laws for the development of Arabic-language media, including radio and regional TV
channels.
A third panel will discuss relations between the Arab community and state institutions
including law enforcement institutions such as police, the police internal investigation unit, state
prosecution, courts and government. MK Adv. Osama Sa`adi will discuss police violence and the
enforcement of laws to prevent incitement and racism. Dr. Louie Zreik, an expert in labour law will
discuss harassment in the workplace experienced by Arab employees. Adv. Abeer Baker, Adv.
Suhad Bishara director of Adallah and Adv. Omar Khamaisi from Mezan will discuss the arrests
of Arab citizens at demonstrations, the actions of the “Price Tag” movement and the recent
governmental decision to outlaw the northern branch of the Islamic movement and all its affiliated
organizations.
The Legal Status conference is an annual event of the Mossawa Center. It is a platform for
discussion, learning, and strengthening links between politicians, activists, academics and the
general public on the legal status of Arab citizens. The conference is organized by a team of
lawyers and activists including; Adv. Jawad Qassem, Adv. Sameh Iraqi, Mr. Iyad Sununu
economist and director of the Mossawa Center Mr. Jafar Farah.
If you would like to attend the conference please follow this link to our registration form.
(Simultaneous translation to English will be provided)
For more information please call our offices at 04-8555901 or email us at
