Commentary: Israeli Arabs Embodify a Success Story, Though Old Habits Cloud the Picture

The presence of Arab citizens within Israel is presented as a success story, though marred by persistent issues. These citizens, who remained within the borders of the newly formed Jewish state in 1947-48, have since gained full legal status.

Lieutenant Colonel Ella Waweya, a 36-year-old Muslim Arab from Qalansawe, exemplifies this complex reality. She serves as the Israeli army's Arabic spokesperson, a role that challenges traditional norms. Waweya, who openly discusses her life choices, including her military service, initially kept her army career secret from her family, who reacted with shock and estrangement.

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Her desire to become a journalist, as she explained in an interview, arose from indignation over al-Jazeera's anti-Israeli reporting during the Intifada around 2001, when she was twelve years old and began to identify with Israel, the country where she was born and raised.

Waweya's journey began with a desire to counter anti-Israel reporting by Al Jazeera during her youth. She pursued communication studies and publicly criticized the draft evasion of ultra-Orthodox Jews, stating her willingness to defend Israel as an Arab citizen. This led to her recruitment into the army, where she served as a soldier in the 2014 Gaza conflict.

Her position as a female Arab soldier, a Zionist, and a spokesperson for the Israeli army to Arab media and citizens highlights the multifaceted identity and integration challenges faced by the approximately two million Arab citizens of Israel. Despite their loyalty and autonomy, they navigate a landscape of societal contradictions and deeply ingrained habits.

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Because here all sorts of taboos came together: as a woman in the army, as an Arab in the service of the state of Israel, as a confessed Zionist and propagandist for the Israeli army towards Arab media and her Arab compatriots living in Israel.