Brief Summary of the Status of Palestinian Women in Israel

Palestinian women in Israel are one of the weakest segments in the state, as they suffer from a triple oppression. First of all, they are women in a strong patriarchal society, the Palestinian one. Even if living in a Western country, they keep, as far as they can, the traditional structure of the society. Women are often regarded by men as merely mothers for their children and housewives, which is considered her main duty. Despite patriarchy is quite extended all over the world, in certain peoples, such as the Palestinian, it is a more acute phenomenon. The unemployment rates are extremely high compared with the mainstream of women in Israel: only 22.9% of Palestinian women in Israel participate in the workshop, while 77.3% of Jewish do. The figures for violence and sexual abuse are similar to those of other women. It has a double lecture: from one side, that violence against women is widespread is several societies; from the other, that few cases are reported due to cultural reasons. In any case, there is a real need to help them break this spiral of violence. The illiteracy rate is alarming: 14.7%, much higher than the 4.5% of their Jewish counterparts.

They also belong to the popular classes, due to the general socioeconomic status of the Palestinians in Israel. In a capitalistic country, workers are, by default, the lower strata of the society. Palestinians, thus, as a result of their nationality, suffer even more threats than their Jewish co-workers: wages are lower and safety conditions inexistent. It is also a common fact that women’s salaries are below those of their male co-workers. Israel it is not an exception, as figures clearly state: 48 out of 50 villages with the lowest average wage for women were Palestinian. Nazareth is the largest Arab town: there, 61% of Palestinian women earned below the legal minimum wage (3191 NIS). Thus, their incomes are far lower than the rest of their co-workers, no matter about gender or nationality: it is a logical outcome for the workforce market in such a society.

Finally, they are Palestinians in Israel, a Jewish Democratic State this defined in ethnical terms. Palestinians citizens are still regarded as a fifth column by large segments of Israeli society. Moreover, they suffer from a systematic discrimination policy from the State, not enjoying the same status as their Jewish co-citizens. The neglect of basic rights to the whole community inevitably affects Palestinian women: they range from unavailability to hold certain jobs or purchase land to the denial of collective rights, such the normal usage of Arabic as an official language of the State.