Transcript Israelis and Palestinians

Israelis and Palestinians
Partitioned after WWII
In 1948, the United Nations declared Israel
a sovereign nation. After the atrocities of
WWII, many Jews went back to the
homeland that promised them in the Bible,
Israel. At the time it was known as
Palestine and was inhabited by Arabs.
This caused war and conflict that
continues to this day.
Land under dispute
The West Bank and The Gaza
Strip are land claimed by The
Palestinians. The Israelis,
however, are building
settlements in the West Bank.
The Golan Heights is land under
disputed between Israel and
Syria.
Population
76% of Israelis are Jewish -The
word Jewish does not describe an
ethnic group or population—it is a
religion, a culture, and a nation.
There are three identities in Israel: religion,
citizenship, and nationality. Someone
could be Christian by religion, Israeli by
citizenship, and Arab by nationality. A Jew
is Jewish by religion and nationality, but
Israeli by citizenship.
Population
• 24% are Palestinian Arabs.
Language
• Israel- Hebrew is the official language.
Arabic and English are taught beginning in
5th grade. Most people in Israel speak at
least 2 languages.
Road signs in Hebrew and Arabic
Religion
• About 76% of Israelis practice Judaism
• About 16 percent of the population is
Muslim (mostly Sunni) and nearly 2
percent is Druze, a religion that is said to
have started as an offshoot of Islam.
• The remaining 2 percent is Christian,
about half of which is Greek Orthodox.
Rosh Hashanah
The Jewish New Year is a day of
reflection, prayer, and gathering to eat with
family.
Ramadan
Ramadan is a Muslim holy month of
fasting, reflection, and prayer.
Education
• The government of Israel provides both religious
and secular school systems.
• Citizens can choose between schools taught in
Hebrew or Arabic.
• School is free and compulsory through the 10th
grade. Elementary school runs through sixth
grade, junior high through ninth, and high school
through twelfth. The high school diploma is
necessary for college entrance and important for
getting a job.
• Most schools hold classes six days a week.
Education
• Israeli government invests $1100 in each
Jewish pupil’s education but only $190 for
each Arab (Palestinian) pupil.
• 92% of adults can read and write.
The Economy
• Every Jewish Israeli must serve in the
military.
• 53 percent of the impoverished families in
Israel are Arabs. Since the majority of
Arabs in Israel do not serve in the army,
they are ineligible for many financial
benefits such as scholarships and housing
loans.
Economy
• The average Israeli makes $26,315 per
year
• salary averages for Arab workers are 29%
lower than for Jewish workers
• What’s 30% of $26,000?
Government
Israel is a Representative Democracy with
a Prime Minister instead of a President.
Who is an Israeli?
Ethnicity - Is Jewish an ethnicity?
• 76% Jewish (mostly Israeli born)
• 24% non-Jewish (mostly Arab)
Religion
• 76% Jewish
• 16% Muslim
• 2% Christian
• 6% other
Languages
• Hebrew (official lang.)
• Arabic
• English
Population – @ 6.5 million
Who is a Palestinian?
(In the Gaza Strip)
Ethnicity
• Almost 100% Arab
Religion
• 99% Muslim (mostly Sunni)
• 1% Christian
Languages
• Arabic
• Hebrew
• English
Population
@ 1.4 mill.
Who is a Palestinian?
(In the West Bank)
Ethnicity
• 83% Arab (and a few other)
• 17% Jewish (Is Jewish an ethnicity?)
Religion
• 75% Muslim
• 17% Jewish
• 8% Christian
Languages
• Arabic
• Hebrew
• English
Population
@ 2.4 mill. Palestinians
@ 360,000 Israeli settlers