Intifada and 1948 Arabs: A Glance at the Present Sociopolitical Challenge to the State of Israel

Those Palestinians who remained in their homeland with the establishment of the Zionist regime in 1948 are called '1948 Arabs'. Despite their suffering from difficulties and discriminations they refused to leave their homeland. The title 'Arab' for them refers to the fact that they possess a secondary position (second-degree citizen); a position that is recognized by the Palestine Liberation Movement (PLO) and it views only the immigrants and inhabitants of the 1967 Occupied Territories as Palestinians. It is the case while such events as the first Intifada and Al-Quds Intifada led the 1948 Arabs to pursue shared destiny and identity with the immigrants and inhabitants of the Occupied Territories rather than identify themselves as Israeli citizens. On this ground, this article seeks to highlight the effects of the First Intifada and Al-Quds Intifada on the social identity and status of the 1948 Arabs. This study demonstrates that the 1948 Arabs live a suspended and dual life following the aforementioned events. They no longer consider themselves as Israeli Arabs on the one hand, and these Palestinians are not recognized as Palestinians on the other.