How and why did the attitude “We like Arab culture, but hate Arab people” take root?
Rachel: Again, its the issues discussed above. I think the national narrative in Israel enforces this attitude – there is so much ambient racism against Arabs and Mizrahis simply conform to that discourse, although they at least are likely to respect the cultural output. Jonathan: Finally, returning to Israel after two decades, would you say that the discrimination against Mizrahi Jews has been reduced? What would the solutions to this problem look like? Rachel: It has reduced, definitely, but the underlying problem persists: namely, that half the population is Mizrahi but the culture is viewed as “low culture” or non-existent and this section of society is socio-economically weak and low status. And Israel, with a majority “Oriental” population, is still desperately trying to be a European outpost in the heart of the Middle East. I think that fundamentally needs to change before we’ll see any real improvements – either for Israel’s citizens or for the Palestinians beyond Israel’s inte
