Arab Representation in Israeli Civil Service Falls Far Short of Goals
Despite a government decision from 2007 mandating 10% Arab employment in civil service, a petition filed with the High Court of Justice reveals significant underrepresentation. According to the petition by the Mossawa Center, Arab representation in senior civil service positions stands at a mere 0.56%, and only 8.8% in middle management, starkly contrasting with their approximately 21% share of the general population. Even the Civil Service Commissioner's office, responsible for enforcing fair representation, employs only 2% Arabs. This situation persists 18 years after the initial directive.
The State, in its response to the court, claimed that overall Arab employment in public service reached 16% by the end of 2025, exceeding the target. However, it acknowledged considerable disparities across different sectors and ministries. For instance, the Ministry of National Security employs only 1.6% Arabs, while the Ministry of Religious Services has none. In government-owned company boards, only 28 Arab members, about 6% of the total, were identified in 2023.
Local government also shows significant gaps. In Lod, where Arabs constitute about 30% of residents, they hold only 1% of municipal management positions. Ramla, with over a quarter of its population being Arab, has no Arab managers in its municipality. The court has demanded detailed data from the state on representation rates in every government unit and the steps taken to meet the 10% target in underrepresented bodies, with an updated submission due by July 19, 2026.
While the healthcare sector shows higher Arab representation, reaching 24% overall and even higher in specific roles like doctors (25% in 2023), a similar pattern of underrepresentation at senior levels persists, with Arabs holding only about 3% of senior management positions in hospitals. Research indicates that Arab professionals, particularly in medicine, often achieve representation through foreign studies and licensing, suggesting systemic barriers within Israel's own medical education system. The court has questioned the state's justifications for these disparities, such as geographical and linguistic difficulties, pointing to successful integration of other groups, like Haredi women, into the workforce.
