How Israel's Systems Favor Arabs (Muslims) Over Jews

Unveiling the Bias: How Israel's Systems Favor Arabs (Muslims) Over Jews

The provided sources argue that Israel’s legal, social, and administrative systems exhibit preferential treatment toward Arabs over Jews, particularly in religious freedom, construction, land allocation, legal enforcement, and access to resources.

1. Religious Freedom and Access to Holy Sites

• In a Jewish state, Jews face unjust restrictions on accessing and praying at the Temple Mount, their holiest site, due to court rulings prioritizing Arab sensitivities over Jewish religious rights (Weber, 2006; Weiss, 2023). [Though Jewish Halachic law prohibits access, but that isn't sthe point]. Weber notes that the Supreme Court, under Aharon Barak, limited Jewish access to avoid Arab unrest, undermining the fundamental right of Jews to worship freely. Weiss warns that Jordanian influence over the Temple Mount perpetuates this discrimination, potentially threatening Jewish prayer even at the Western Wall.
• Incidents like the arrest of a Jew for blowing a shofar near the Western Wall highlight a double standard, as Arab worship faces no such constraints (Weber, 2006).

2. Construction and Land Use

• Israeli authorities disproportionately target Jewish settlers with strict enforcement of building regulations while turning a blind eye to widespread illegal Arab construction in Jerusalem, the Galilee, and the Negev (Weber, 2006; Segal, 2010; Lieberman, 2010; Ben-Meir, 2016). Weber cites thousands of unpermitted Arab homes left untouched, while Jewish settlements face demolition. Lieberman (2010) and Netanyahu (2014) assert that Jews are unfairly restricted from building or buying property in Jerusalem, while Arabs enjoy unrestricted access, with Lieberman warning that barring Jews from construction resembles apartheid.
• Ben-Meir (2016) highlights that Jews purchasing property from Arabs require arbitrary approval from the Civilian Administration, unlike Arab buyers who face no such hurdles.
• Yaish (2018) reveals that the Israel Land Authority (ILA) restricts most land tenders in Arab communities to “local residents,” effectively excluding Jews, while in other communities, only partial land is reserved for locals.
• Srugim (2023) reports Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s claim that Arabs buying apartments in the Galilee are displacing Jews, and Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf’s assertion that Muslims and Druze receive a 91% land discount, leaving Jews to face discriminatory pricing.

3. Legal and Judicial Bias

• Israel’s judiciary, particularly under Barak and Beinisch, is accused of favoring Arabs in rulings that undermine Jewish rights (Weber, 2006). The High Court of Justice has prioritized Arab property rights over Jewish settlers’ right to life, as seen in decisions about the separation fence and the Kissufim axis, where a delayed demolition led to the tragic murder of Jewish civilians (Weber, 2006).
• Segal (2010) emphasizes that Jews in Judea and Samaria are subject to a discriminatory military administration, requiring permits for basic activities like building balconies, while Palestinians enjoy civilian self-rule. Jewish settlers also face harsher legal scrutiny and penalties compared to Arabs.
• Srugim (2023) notes Levin’s push for judicial reform to address systemic bias, arguing that the current system enables policies favoring Arabs, such as in land allocation.

4. Freedom of Movement and Access

• Jews are barred from entering Arab-majority areas like Ramallah and Nablus, risking violence or arrest, while Arabs with Israeli IDs move freely (Segal, 2010). Roads like the Ein Arik shortcut are closed to Jews but open to Arabs, forcing Jewish motorists to endure longer commutes (Segal, 2010). Segal contrasts the partial closure of one Hebron street to Arabs with hundreds of streets closed to Jews, exposing clear ethnic discrimination.

5. Freedom of Speech and Political Expression

• Arab leaders and Knesset members enjoy near-unlimited freedom of speech, even when supporting Israel’s enemies or visiting hostile countries, while Jews, particularly right-wing Jews, face swift prosecution for minor offenses like insulting public officials (Weber, 2006).

6. Economic and Social Benefits

• Arabs receive full National Insurance benefits without contributing through military or national service, unlike Jews, and face less scrutiny from tax authorities (Weber, 2006).
• The “Jewish Majority” campaign, endorsed by Netanyahu’s spokesman in 2025, highlights how affirmative action policies favor Arabs in university admissions, government tenders, and land distribution, disadvantaging Jews who bear the burden of taxes and military service (Sokol, 2025).
• Srugim (2023) underscores Wasserlauf’s claim that Muslims and Druze receive a 91% land discount, further entrenching economic favoritism toward Arabs at the expense of Jews.

7. Counterarguments and Context

• Plaut (2014) finds no evidence of ethnic discrimination against Arabs in labor markets or universities, where affirmative action sometimes benefits Arabs. However, this does not refute the broader claims of systemic bias against Jews in religious access, land allocation, and construction enforcement.
• Critics might argue that security concerns justify restrictions on Jewish access to certain areas or holy sites, and Arab complaints about discrimination (e.g., at Ben-Gurion Airport) suggest challenges for both groups. However, the sources emphasize that these policies disproportionately harm Jews, undermining Israel’s identity as a Jewish state.

Conclusion

The sources expose a troubling pattern of systemic bias in Israel’s legal, administrative, and judicial systems, which they argue unfairly favors Arabs over Jews in religious access, construction, land allocation, legal rulings, freedom of movement, and economic opportunities. From restricted access to the Temple Mount to discriminatory land policies and lenient enforcement of illegal Arab construction, these policies undermine Jewish rights, particularly for settlers. The added sources (Yaish, 2018; Srugim, 2023) highlight specific injustices, such as the ILA’s exclusionary land tenders and significant land discounts for Arabs, which exacerbate Jewish displacement.

Notes

This summary is compiled from the following sources:

• Weber, Hanoch. "Arabs are indeed discriminated against - for the better." Ynet, October 18, 2006. Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20061103121041/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3316255,00.html
• Sofer, Roni. "FM: Won't discriminate against Jews in J'lem." Ynetnews, March 16, 2010. Available at: https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3863616,00.html
• Segal, Hagai. "What about Jewish rights?" Ynetnews, June 21, 2010. Available at: https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3908303,00.html
• Plaut, Steven. "The Myth of Ethnic Inequality in Israel." Middle East Quarterly, Summer 2014 (Volume 21, Number 3). Available at: https://www.meforum.org/middle-east-quarterly/israel-inequality
• "US-Israeli rift; 'Building in Jerusalem is poisoning the atmosphere.'" Globes, October 2, 2014. Available at: https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000975892
• Ben-Meir, Dovid. "Another Misused word in the War of Words Against Israel: Apartheid." The Jerusalem Post, April 18, 2016. Available at: https://www.jpost.com/blogs/settled-knowledge-from-the-hills/another-misused-word-in-the-war-of-words-against-israel-apartheid-451505
• Yaish, Shimon. "Review of Israel land sales reveals discrimination against Jews." JNS.org, June 21, 2018. Available at: https://www.jns.org/review-of-israel-land-sales-reveals-discrimination-against-jews/
• Weiss, Farley. "Jordanian Control of the Temple Mount Will Destroy the ‘Status Quo’." The Algemeiner, January 15, 2023. Available at: https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/01/15/jordanian-control-of-the-temple-mount-will-destroy-the-status-quo/
• "Levin: 'Arabs are buying apartments and making Jews leave'." Srugim news, May 28, 2023. Available at: https://www.srugim.co.il/?p=798865
• Sokol, Sam. "Netanyahu’s spokesman shares post blasting ‘affirmative action’ in favor of Arabs." The Times of Israel, July 12, 2025. Available at: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahus-spokesman-shares-post-blasting-affirmative-action-in-favor-of-arabs/