The Mossawa Center released its annual racism report at a press conference in Nazareth today, detailing 169 incidences of racism against Arab minority of Israel, including the killings of Arab citizens. In preparation for the report, Mossawa staff examined and detailed hundreds of reports of racism, in particular cases against Arab citizens. The report also deals with incidences of racism against refugees, labor immigrants and Jewish immigrants, especially Ethiopians.The research carried out by the Mossawa Center staff reiterated that a commitment to equal rights exists only on a verbal level in Israel, and that Arab citizens still face institutional racism. In addition, it found that racism by Jewish citizens occurs against these groups on a daily basis and in all areas of public life.
“We believe that this report is important for all citizens because racism can burn everything that faces it,” says Jafar Farah, director of the Mossawa Center. “Furthermore, racism does not stop at Arab citizens but affects other neglected communities.”
Key figures released in the report today:
– 41 Arab citizen shot dead over the past 7 years
24 Arab citizens shot dead by Israeli policemen
5 Arab citizens shot dead by Israeli soldiers
8 Arab citizens shot dead by Jewish citizens
2 Arab citizens shot dead by private security companies
2 Arab citizens shot dead by Israeli soldiers serving in Police and Border Patrol
– 27 racist declarations by political leaders and public figures
– Thousands of cases of incitement on the internet
– 5 NGOs directly calling for racism/racist actions against the Arab community
– 8 attacks on cemeteries, churches, mosques and on freedom of religion
– 11 discriminatory laws in the Israeli legal system
– 24 cases of racial profiling in airports, train stations, coffee shops and public places.
– 5 cases of racism in employment
14 cases of racism against Ethiopians
“Lack of indifference towards racism against Arabs leads to amplified racist events against marginalized Jewish groups," says Rabbi Gilad Kariv, associate director of the Israel Religious Action Center. "As a rabbi, I'm concerned by religious personalities that are involved in incitement. It's alarming that Rabbis who receive their salaries from the state budget speak against renting apartments to Arabs, and send inspectors to look for Arab workers in stores."
The Mossawa Center stands against all types of discrimination against any community, especially discrimination based on racial, religious or gender backgrounds, and calls on the State and citizens of Israel to put an end to racism against the Arab minority and the marginalized ethnic communities in Israel.
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The Mossawa Center, the Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote equality for the Arab Palestinian citizens of Israel. Established in 1997, the Mossawa Center strives to improve the social, economic and political status of the Arab citizens of Israel, while preserving their national and cultural rights as Palestinians.
