The conference provided a platform for active members of the struggle for equality for the Arab Palestinian minority in Israel, including contributions from the Head of the High Follow-Up Committee, Mohammed Barekeh, Joint List MKs Dr. Yousef Jabaraeen and Jomaa a-Zabarqa, and Naveen Abu Rahmmoun of the National Democratic Party, Al-Tajamou’ (Balad).

In the opening panel, the Director of the Mossawa Center, alongside the Palestinian Minister of Education, Dr. Sabri Saidam, and Mohammed Barakeh, discussed the implications of the U.S. President Trump’s recent announcement to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Unsurprisingly, the group unanimously opposed the decision, lamenting its likelihood to undermine the peace process and to perpetuate the state of Israel’s ongoing occupation of East Jerusalem. Dr. Saidam stated that Trump’s announcement is political posturing, and leaves the Palestinian community isolated internationally. Barakeh also noted that Trump’s decision has disregarded the sanctity of Jerusalem for different religious groups, and rendered it merely a political tool. He made allusions to history, and stated that the decision perpetuates what happened with the Balfour Declaration. Both figures emphasized the importance of unity amongst the Palestinian community in response to the President’s decision. The discussion also focused on upcoming political changes in the Arab Palestinian community in light of the internal crisis within the Joint List, legislation in the Knesset, and changes in the Israeli left.

The panelists, which included the aforementioned Niveen Abu Rahmoun and MK Jomaa a-Zabarqa, as well as Adv. Amir Fakhoury and Sharaf Hassoun of the Communist party, deliberated on developments in the Joint List, including its relationship with the High Follow-Up Committee, Additionally, the group discussed threats to the independence of the judiciary and the growing tensions between the Jewish character of the state and what remains of its democratic values. Thus, the panel emphasized the Jewish Nation-State bill and the threats it poses to democracy, as well as human, civil, and minority rights, and the Middle East peace process.

In their discussion of potential ways to improve the struggle for equality at the legislative level, the panelists examined changes in the Labor party relating to settlements, the Jewish state, and its relationship with the Joint List (the party leader Avi Gabbay recently stated that he would never allow a member of the Joint List to serve in his government in a widely criticized attempt to garner favor amongst conservative voters). In light of these developments and the crisis facing the Israeli left the panelists explored the possibility of forming a unified bloc between the Israeli left and representatives of the Arab Palestinian community in the upcoming general elections. Dr Ali shared his recent research on the political participation of the Arab community in Israel that states that 80% of Arab citizens in Israel want political integration in the Knesset, with Arab parties being involved in the political process. The research shows that only 7.5% of Arab citizens in Israel believe that Israel treats them equally. Although his data were collected before recent problems arising from the rotation of the Joint List, he stated that 77% of Arab citizens see the Joint List as an important political institution that should not be ignored. It was then commented that the Joint List possesses the capacity to unite Arab citizens in Israel, despite their political differences.

In one of the three parallel panels of the afternoon, which the Director of the Coalition Against Racism in Israel, Adv. Nidal Othman, moderated, speakers discussed the rights of victims of crime, especially in light of inaction on the part of state authorities. Panelists included Samah Salimeh, the founder of “Naam” for Arab Women in the Center, Adv. Shatha Amer of the Rights of Citizens Organization, Adv. Bashaer Fahoum Jiousi, Adv. Albeir Nahas, Adv. Ami Holander, and Adv. Khaled Titi. The group discussed the use of acting and civil lawsuits to deter aggressors, as well as the issue of the rights of abused women, the rights of victims of work accidents, and the rights of women in the workplace.

Another panel included Iqbal Dahli who moderated, Katsunobu Takada, the Political Affairs Consultant for the Japanese Embassy, Nasir Aatiani, the General Manager of JAPCO, Walid Afifi, the Head of the Association of Nazareth for Culture and Tourism, Tomomi Hirata of JICA Palestine, and Khalil Abu Rabeaa, a Scholar and Lecturer at Ben Gurion University in the Negev. In this panel, the speakers focused on cooperation on both sides of the Green Line. Takada described current developments in Japan’s involvement in the ‘corridor of peace’ that has allowed them to develop an industrial park in Jericho to support Palestinian businesses and revive Jericho through economic development. Mr. Attiani discussed the benefits of the park in Jericho, explaining that products are sent to market in the West Bank and Israel, with the intention of reaching the overseas markets. Indeed, the Jericho-location allows for easier access to both Israel’s and Europe’s market.

Further, with tens of thousands of Palestinian Arab students studying in Jordan and the West Bank, the panelists discussed their rights in attending these schools. The group also discussed the issue of commercial and touristic exchange between Nazareth, Bethlehem, and the industrial zone in Jericho. Finally, the panel also highlighted the political and legal challenges associated with Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel traveling to Arab countries through the use of Palestinian passports.

Another of the parallel panels , moderated by Dr. Rana Zaher and including Adv. Loai Zreiq, Adv. Ahmad Ghazawi, Adv. Noreen Nashif, and Adv. Tamim Abd Al-Halim, focused on the legal and moral responsibilities of Arab local councils and the upcoming local council elections. The panelists discussed the importance of local councils addressing some of the leading causes of crime in Arab localities, such as taking on debt, the black market, and the mafia. They also addressed political appointments, tenders, and the exploitation of public funds to garner electoral support in light of several important decisions taken in recent years regarding these issues and local authorities. The panelists highlighted the responsibility of local councils to provide services to people with special needs and the imperative of incorporating women in local governance. Regarding the latter, the panelists discussed the Local Authorities Law which promotes the nomination of women in local council elections, encouraging individuals running for local council to take advantage of this incentive.

Dr. Sabri Saidam, Jafar Farah, and MK Yousef Jabareen concluded the conference. Dr. Saidam, tthe Palestinian Minister of Education, emphasized the special relationship between Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line. He refered to the “organic links between Palestinian and Palestinian across the homeland, from sea to river” as an important aspect of “our lives as Palestinians.” He continued, noting that “remaining connected—at the academic, cultural, or commercial level—is part of the core of Palestinian resilience and noble resistance.” Adding that the audience must turn its focus not to “the rights of Arab citizens within the occupying state as much as the rights of Palestinians [in general], especially in light of the recent developments… The Palestinian is not erased by the stroke of a pen, nor is he excluded by the arbitrary decision of a wrestler who has decided to jump in the arena of conflict against the Palestinian people.”

In his concluding remarks, Jafar Farah emphasized the importance of proactive action, rather than reaction, even in the face of Trump’s remarks. “Great challenges are before us,” he said, noting that the community must organize to ensure a positive outcome in upcoming elections, at both the local and national levels, so that the community can influence its future. In Israel, with Palestinian Arabs constituting over twenty percent of the population, their leaders are an indispensable component of any peace majority in the Knesset.

Finally, MK Dr. Yousef Jabareen emphasized the right of the Palestinian Arab minority “to enjoy a kind of autonomy in all matters relating to education, culture, and planning and construction,” as well as historical rights. The latter of which, he noted, involves liberating lands  formerly belonging to religious institutions before being confiscated by the Israeli authorities, the recognition of unrecognized villages in the Negev Desert, and the return of internally displaced Arab citizens to their villages. He concluded, noting the importance of the conference in providing a space for the public to raise their views, raise awareness amongst themselves, and discuss solutions to the issues facing the Palestinian Arab community in Israel.