“apartheid”

Israel: A Multicultural Democracy, Not an Apartheid State

• Liberal Democracy: Israel is a vibrant, multicultural democracy with a legal system that guarantees equal rights for all citizens, regardless of religion, race, or sex, as enshrined in its founding Declaration of Independence.

• Diverse Society: Israel’s population includes people from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, all granted equal rights and protections under the law.

• Equal Political Rights: Non-Jewish citizens, comprising 25% of Israel’s population, have enjoyed equal voting and political rights since the state’s founding. Arab citizens have served in the Knesset since 1949, securing up to 17 seats in a single election.

• Arab Political Participation: From 2021–2022, the Ra’am party, representing religious Muslim Arab citizens, was a key coalition partner, securing $16 billion for Arab community security and prosperity.

• Arab Leadership in Public Service: In 2015, Arab-Israeli Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran led Israel’s Central Elections Committee, overseeing national elections. Adv. Mariam Kabaha, appointed National Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner in 2015, became the highest-ranking Arab woman in civil service.

• Minority Military Service: Israeli Druze, Bedouins, and Arabs serve in the Israel Defense Forces, with individuals like Colonel Dr. Badar Tarif, the first Druze head of the IDF Medical Corps in 2016, reaching senior ranks such as Major General.