Arab Citizens' Opposition to Mandatory Civil Service Explained
The current Israeli election campaign has revived discussions about imposing mandatory civil or national service on the Arab community. This comes as some Arab political factions have expressed willingness to participate in civil service, contingent on conditions set by Benny Gantz, leader of the National Unity party and a candidate for prime minister. Gantz's conditions for any party to join the next government include recognizing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, accepting the principles of the Israeli Declaration of Independence, and committing to the principle of 'service for all,' encompassing military or national service for both Jews and Arabs.
The debate over mandatory service is occurring in the context of heightened political polarization following the October 7th attacks and the ongoing war in Gaza. It also takes place amidst what the article describes as daily incitement against the Arab community, attempts to delegitimize and demonize it, and efforts to exclude it politically. The author argues that the civil service requirement, in this climate, serves as an obstacle to the legitimacy and influence of the Arab voice, aiming to subjugate the Arab community, erase Palestinian identity, promote assimilation, and justify denying rights based on a perceived lack of service to the state.
The article traces the origins of proposed civil service projects to the Ministry of Defense and the National Security Council, suggesting they were conceived as alternatives to military service, from which Arab citizens have historically been exempt. The author asserts that the Arab community not only has been exempt from military service but also opposes it for historical, national, social, identity, and humanitarian reasons. As long as these projects are framed within a military-centric vision, lack genuine participation from Arab leadership, and are presented as fulfilling state needs rather than community needs, the central current within the Palestinian community in Israel will continue to resist.
The author emphasizes that the Palestinian community in Israel, despite holding Israeli citizenship, experiences a hierarchy of citizenship, with Jewish citizenship being full and unconditional, while Arab citizenship is described as deficient, weak, and conditional. True equality, the article contends, cannot be achieved as long as Israel defines itself as a Jewish state, creating a perpetual cycle of inequality. Furthermore, in democratic states, rights and freedoms should not be contingent on duties; rather, the state should first grant rights, which the author claims Israeli governments have failed to do since 1948, even as Arab citizens fulfill their obligations like paying taxes, despite land confiscation and displacement.
In contrast to the proposed mandatory service, the article highlights the inherent culture of volunteerism and mutual aid within the Arab community, evident in celebrations, mourning, charitable initiatives, and emergency responses. The author distinguishes voluntary service, based on will and responsibility, from mandatory service, which is state-imposed. Refusing mandatory service, therefore, does not equate to rejecting community service or helping those in need. Instead, the article proposes that the Arab community can develop its own model of voluntary work, rooted in its specific needs, values, and energies, rather than accepting a state-imposed framework. It calls for local Arab authorities to establish dedicated units for volunteerism and giving, similar to units for education or health, to professionalize and organize these efforts, create databases of volunteers, and connect them with community needs. Such organized volunteerism, the author suggests, can foster new skills, a sense of belonging, and practical experience, giving community work deeper meaning.
