"The term “Arab Israelis” has been propagated by Israel to downplay the identity and indigeneity of Palestinians, thus constituting a form of anti-Palestinian racism. The term “Israeli Arab” was never chosen by the Palestinian people, and it doesn’t take into consideration their separate identity from Arabs as a whole."
February 21, 2024
To:
Marsha Barber, Contributor, Toronto Star
Anne Marie Owens, Editor-in-Chief, Toronto Star
Dear Marsha Barber and Anne Marie Owens,
I am writing to express my concern about the opinion piece: “Zionism: why Israel needs to exist in the world,” published on February 20 in Toronto Star.
Foremost, although a lot of issues can be raised about the opinion piece, I take objection to your repeated use of the phrase “Arab Israelis” to describe Palestinian citizens of Israel.
- You write: “Those Arab Israelis hold posts as parliamentarians, journalists, judges, and have a vote in all elections.”
- You also write: “But according to Reuters, a November poll suggests 70 per cent of Arab Israelis say they ‘feel part of the country.’”
- You finally write: “When you say you’re anti-Zionist, you’re denying Arab Israelis their country too.”
The term “Arab Israelis” has been propagated by Israel to downplay the identity and indigeneity of Palestinians, thus constituting a form of anti-Palestinian racism. The term “Israeli Arab” was never chosen by the Palestinian people, and it doesn’t take into consideration their separate identity from Arabs as a whole.[1] Media should, therefore, not describe Palestinian citizens of Israel as such, as a variety of Arab and Middle Eastern journalist associations like the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) and the Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association (AMEJA) suggest using the term “Palestinian citizens of Israel.”
I, therefore, suggest changing the word “Arab Israelis” to “Palestinian citizens of Israel” to use more accurate and respectful language regarding Palestinians.
I hope Marsha Barber and Toronto Star will make this change and not fuel anti-Palestinian racism even more.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
[1] Canadians for Justice in the Middle East (CJPME), “Why Palestinians in Israel are “Palestinian citizens of Israel,” https://www.cjpmemap.ca/why_palestinians_israel_are_palestinian_citizens_of_israel