The People of Israel  

Israel is a mosaic of different population groups coexisting in a democratic framework.  Nitzan works to meet the needs of Israel's multiethnic, multicultural, multireligious, and multilingual society.  We are proud to be part of a country that guarantees all citizens strict legal and civic equality.

Click on the following links to learn more about Israel's many cultures.

Jews • Muslims • Christians • Druze • Circassians • Baha'i • Bedouin • Ethiopian • Russian • Top of Page

Jews (approximately 5.5 million) form the largest percentage of Israeli society.  Jews first settled in the Land of Israel during the second century BCE.  Jewish independence in the Land lasted for over 500 years before the Babylonian conquest.  Jewish independence was restored and lasted for another several hundred years until the year 70 CE, at which time the Jewish State was crushed by Rome. 

Jews, pagans, and Christians sparsely inhabited the land for the next 600 years, at which time they were invaded by Arabs bent on Islamic conquest.  Under Muslim Imperialism, Israel remained inhabited primarily by poor Jews and Christians while various Islamic nations and ethnicities fought for control of Islam.  The Crusaders tore much of Israel from Islam's oppressive grasp in the 10th century, but the Crusaders were neither tolerant of Judaism, nor successful in maintaining control of Israel.  Following the withdrawal of the Crusaders in the 11th century, Israel succumbed to Muslim neglect.  The Jewish homeland became a backwater, an almost empty wasteland inhabited by tiny, poor populations of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. 

This all changed in the 1800s when Jews began returning.  They purchased and rebuilt the land, intent on saving and returning to their empty, neglected homeland.  Suddenly, now that Jews wanted to resettle here, Muslims began taking an interest in the place they had perpetually ignored.  When Jewish immigration stimulated economic growth, many Muslims were attracted to the area by its employment opportunities, higher wages, and better living conditions.  The Muslims in Israel and the Middle East are often referred to as "Arabs," but actually come from many Middle Eastern countries, both Arab and non-Arab.

Jews were amazingly successful in rebuilding their homeland.  In new communities and in the Jewish communities that had existed in Israel for millennia, the Jews built a thriving economy more advanced than anywhere in the region.  The Jewish State has not only become one of the world's leading nations, it also serves as a haven for Jewish refugees fleeing oppression from all parts of the globe.

 Jews • Muslims • Christians • Druze • Circassians • Baha'i • Bedouin • Ethiopian • Russian • Top of Page

Muslims (approximately one million), most of whom are Sunni, reside in many small towns and villages.  Most Israeli Muslims live in the north of the country.  These citizens come from families who opted to ignore the calls of "Arab" leaders who preached hatred of Jews.  The nations surrounding Israel tried repeatedly to destroy Israel and, in 1948, they urged Israel's non-Jewish population to leave or face the same fate as that intended for the Jews - massacre.  The Muslim citizens who remained were lucky; those who left were abandoned and oppressed by the Arab nations.   

Israel's Muslim citizens have adopted Hebrew as a second language and Israeli culture as an extra layer in their lives.  Development of intergroup relations between Israel's Muslims and Jews has been hindered by deeply-rooted Muslim anti-Semitism and differences in religion, values, and political beliefs.  Nevertheless, Israeli Muslims lead a higher quality of life - with greater freedom, economic and educational opportunity, and participation in true democratic government - than Muslims anywhere in the so-called "Arab" world. 

Bedouins (approximately 170,000) belong to about 30 tribes.  Most Israeli Bedouin live in the south of the country.  Formerly nomadic shepherds, the Bedouin are currently in transition from a tribal social framework to a permanently settled society and are gradually entering Israel's labor force.

Christians (approximately 117,000) live mainly in urban areas, including Nazareth, Shfar'am and Haifa.  Although many denominations are nominally represented, the majority are affiliated with the Greek Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.

Jews • Muslims • Christians • Druze • Circassians • Baha'i • Bedouin • Ethiopian • Russian • Top of Page

Druze (approximately 113,000) live in 22 villages in northern Israel, constitute a separate cultural, social and religious community.  While the Druze religion is not accessible to outsiders, one known aspect of its philosophy is the concept of taqiyya, which calls for complete loyalty by its adherents to the government of the country in which they reside.

Circassians (approximately 3,000) live concentrated in two northern villages, are Sunni Muslims, although they share neither the Arab origin nor the cultural background of the larger Islamic community.  While maintaining a distinct ethnic identity, they participate in Israel's economic and national affairs without assimilating either into Jewish society or into the Muslim community.

Baha'i: Israel is home to the Baha'i faith.  Baha'i is an independent world religion founded in Persia during the mid-19th century.  The Baha'i world center, Shrine of the Bab, is located in Haifa, and the Shrine of Baha'ullah, the prophet-founder of the Baha'i faith, is located near Akko.

Jews • Muslims • Christians • Druze • Circassians • Baha'i • Bedouin • Ethiopian • Russian • Top of Page

Russian Jewish Refugees:  The most recent wave of mass immigration comprised members of the large Jewish community of the former Soviet Union which struggled for years for the right to emigrate to Israel. While some 100,000 managed to come in the 1970s, since 1989 over one million have settled in the country. Among them were many highly educated professionals, well-known scientists and acclaimed artists and musicians, whose expertise and talents are contributing significantly to Israel's economic, scientific, academic and cultural life.

Ethiopian Jewish Refugees:  The 1980s and 1990s witnessed the arrival of two massive airlifts of the ancient Jewish community of Ethiopia, popularly believed to have been there since the time of King Solomon. While the transition of these 50,000 immigrants from an agrarian African environment to an industrialized Western society will take time, the eagerness of their youth to adapt will hasten the absorption of this long-isolated Jewish community.

Jews • Muslims • Christians • Druze • Circassians • Baha'i • Bedouin • Ethiopian • Russian • Top of Page