JCRC and NIF Host Talk About Israeli-Arab Equality

The Jewish Advocate
June 9, 2006
By NICOLE TUBMAN

Sikkuy means "chance" or "opportunity" in Hebrew. In Israel, it is a non-partisan advocacy organization that develops and implements projects to advance the rights of the country's Arab and Jewish citizens. On May 24, Sikkuy co-directors Ali Haider and Shuli Dichter, an Israeli-Arab and an Israeli-Jew, addressed a group of over 80 people at Temple Beth Zion in Brookline.

The talk, hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council's (JCRC) Israel Action Center along with the New Israel Fund (NIF), was called "The Trouble with Equality."

Tamar Miller, co-director of the NIF New England Region, moderated a question and answer period between Haider, Dichter and community members which drew intense discussions from various segments of the political spectrum. "To the best of my knowledge, this was the first time this challenging issue has been discussed publicly in the Jewish community," she said. "It comes in the context of the inter-agency task force on the rights and responsibilities of Arab-Israelis." Miller was alluding to a national forum convened by several national Jewish community organizations, including United Jewish Communities and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, for the purpose of education and conversation on the status of Israeli Arabs.

Questions during the discussion ranged from what exactly is the trouble with equality to why Israeli Jews should care about Arab equality. Haider's response was to assure the audience that he identifies himself as a Palestinian-Arab citizen of the State of Israel. He said that at times "Palestinian" is used to describe him, which is wrong. He explained that he has the same anger and questions as the audience members who were upset with him - because he considers himself an Israeli citizen who has lost friends and family to terrorism as well.

Following the talk, Haider and Dichter met with JCRC executive director, Nancy K. Kaufman. "Sikkuy is an organization that works to improve Israel by obtaining equal rights for all her citizens. With Israel looking to set permanent borders and define the nature of its society, this issue is critical to maintaining and strengthening Israel's Jewish and democratic values," said Kaufman.

In addition to Boston, Sikkuy's co-directors visited New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Portland on a US tour to publicize and discuss their work.