2016-09-06

 I’lam conducted a symposium at the Public Library of Yaffa-Nazareth to discuss the recently issued report entitled “Strategic Report of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel: Possible Future Scenarios”. The event was held in collaboration with the Council of Yaffa Nazareth. The panel consisted of MK Ayman Odeh, chairman of the Joint List Party; Prof. Rassem Khamaisi, town and regional planner, urban geographer, and lecturer at the University of Haifa; Himmat Zu’bi, of the Mada al-Carmel Research Center and a doctoral candidate at Ben-Gurion University; attorney Omran Kinanah, Mayor of the Local Council in Yaffa Nazareth; and Prof. Amal Jamal, General Director of I’lam.

Prof. Jamal discussed the objective of the strategic report, which informed the content of this symposium. The report is intended as a serious approach to the analysis of the situation of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel, and an effort to discern what potential scenarios lay ahead. This analysis serves as preliminary work for strategic planning and action that will help facilitate favorable scenarios and intercept unwanted ones.

Ms Zu’bi spoke about the challenges that Palestinian society faces, both from an unsympathetic, right-wing government and from a lack of unity within the community. MK Odeh stressed the need to think politically as a means of improving the current situation, and Mr. Kinanah added the importance of developing a strong, coherent vision, a sentiment supported by Prof. Khamaisi who discussed further the content of the strategic report and its relevance for responding to the needs voiced by the rest of the panel.