A Middle Eastern Turning Point

3 minute read

This week, the world’s attention centers on the United Nations in New York where, following months of build-up, the Palestinians have brought their case for statehood to the U.N. Security Council. Given the certainty of a U.S. veto, the Palestinian bid for U.N. recognition will be stillborn. What follows after this high-profile diplomatic “showdown” is anybody’s guess, but there’s little cause for optimism. Co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians in the bitterly contested Holy Land grows ever more fraught. Seeking to break through barriers, Israeli photographer Natan Dvir decided to cast his lens on the others in his midst — the largely marginalized Israeli Arabs, who comprise nearly a fifth of Israel’s total population. Dvir sums up their plight:

“They are living as a minority in a Jewish country at war with people [the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza] they see as allies or even brothers… Many see themselves as being discriminated against and are hoping for a change that would allow them and the rest of the Arab population in Israel an equal position in society.”

Yet that prospect seems remote, especially now under the watch of a particularly right-wing Israeli government. The Arab and Jewish communities, says Dvir, have been drifting apart over the years, pointing to surveys that now suggest nearly half the Israeli Jewish population would not object to Israeli Arabs being deprived of some of their civil rights. A loyalty oath to Israel as a “Jewish” state further polarized feelings.

Sensing their alienation, Dvir went around photographing Israeli Arabs —in particular, Israeli Arabs all of a certain age. Eighteen is a project not just about youth, but about what it means to grow into adulthood in some of the most politically-charged and challenging circumstances possible. As Dvir points out, the age of 18 is the moment of real separation between Jewish and Arab Israelis; most of the Jews leave for military service, most of the Arabs stay put.

Dvir’s pictures of Israeli Arabs move from intimate portraits to scenes of quotidian ennui to glimpses of the grim, bleak desolation that can shape the collective psyche of an embittered community. Throughout, the photos convey a kind of unvarnished, human normalcy. For fellow Israelis, says Dvir, he hopes his project “is a point of contact serving as an invitation. A project aimed at reconciliation through understanding and respect. If I, a Jewish Israeli man, have been accepted and was allowed into my subjects’ lives – so can others.”

Ishaan Tharoor is a writer-reporter for TIME and editor of Global Spin. You can find him on Twitter at ishaantharoor. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIMEWorld.

Natan Dvir is a photographer who shares his time between New York and Israel. Eighteen has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States, Europe, South America and Israel. To see more of Dvir’s work visit his website.

Mohammad Abu Dabus, 18, in his bedroom in Nazareth. Mohammad left school after being injured in a car accident. He was later arrested in a demonstration and was accused of throwing stones at policemen. After serving a month in prison he was released to house detention until the end of his trial.Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Mohammad Nadaf, 18, center, and his family in their living room above the market in Haifa. Mohammad’s parents divorced a few years ago. His mother remarried a Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem. His father is a drug addict and goes in and out of jail. Mohammad quit school two years ago and tries to work to support his family, which survives on welfare. Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Angham Amin Essa, 18, left, puts on makeup next to her sister Johaina, 10, right, who is not yet obligated to wear a hijab (traditional Muslim head cover). Over a third of the Arab population in Israel practices a traditional Muslim lifestyle. Many young women experience discriminatory attitude from the Jewish society when wearing the hijab in public as they are required according to their religion.Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Jehad Nassar, 18, holds a chick in the backyard of his cousin's house in Arrabe. Many households in Arab villages own chickens or horses, though young people often chose to pursue non-agricultural professions. Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
The entrance to the house of Mohammad Abu Dabus in Nazareth. Many Arab families suffer from bad financial situations and often do not have the funds to complete building their home leaving bare concrete.Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Mohammad Mahamid, 18, in his bedroom Muawiya. Mohammad is an only child and lives above his parents’ basic apartment. He works in a boutique and likes to go out with his friends to clubs in large Jewish cities as Haifa and Akko. Mohammad hopes to study physiotherapy and publish a book of his poems.Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
The men of the Awad family share the traditional Maklube during Friday family dinner in Jerusalem. A large part of the Arab society in Israel follows traditional lifestyle defining gender rolls and separating between the men and the women. The men dine together and the women follow after they have finished.Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Suliman Abu-Abayed, 43, praying in his living room next to his child in the Bedouin town of Lakiya. The larger part of the Bedouin society was forced by the authorities to abandon their traditional nomad lifestyle and move into urban housing in a few towns. While trying to preserve their tradition, many are influenced by western cultures. Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Iman Iben-Atami, 17, serving her father in the guest-room of their home in the unrecognized Bedouin village Hashem Zana. The Bedouin society is very traditional. Women are expected to follow a very strict lifestyle and be obedient to the will of their father or husband.Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Dina Azem, 18, in her bedroom in Jaffa. Dina was born to a Jewish Russian mother and a Muslim Israeli father in Ukraine and moved to Israel at the age of 5. She now lives in Jaffa in a collective of Arab and Jewish human rights activists and volunteers in various organizations.Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Sliman Khalil Al Dahabshe (18) sitting on the rubbles of his house in the village of Shkip. Sliman lives in one of 47 unrecognized Bedouin villages. The Israeli authorities destroyed his home defining it as an illegal structure, though his father served for many years in the Israeli army. Sliman’s family currently lives in a shed not being able to build a house fearing it would only be tore down again.Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Angham Amin Issa, 18, top, helps her sister Johaina,10, with her homework. Most Arab families have many children, forcing the older to help their younger siblings.Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Hanan Abu Ashiba, 18, in her living room in Abu Grinath. Hanan lives in one of 47 illegal Bedouin villages. Her home is under constant threat of being destroyed by the authorities. She hopes to study education, yet it is uncommon in the Bedouin society and her financial situation doesn’t allow it.Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
A young Arab man watches two of his friends playing pool in the local cafe in Jaljulia. Only 3% of the youth in Jaljulia complete their high school studies successfully and get their diploma. Most end up earning low wages working in construction for companies owned by Jews. The central city offers few recreation venues and most young men hang out in the streets or in the only cafe in town. Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Iman Mousa Iben Atami, 17, guards her baby brother in the backyard of her home in the illegal Bedouin village Hashem Zana. Being the oldest girl still living with her parents, Iman’s duties include taking care of her younger siblings. Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Sliman Mahmoud Al-Walidi, 18, left, watches TV with two of his brothers at their home in the illegal Bedouin village Shkip. Sliman's home and other building in the village were destroyed by the authorities a few months ago claiming they were built without permits. His family lives in a tin structure afraid to build another house that will be demolished again. Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
A view of Sheikh Danun village in northern Israel. The larger part of the residents in the village is Muslim and the rest are Christian. Most Arab villages suffer from low budget allocations and corruption leading to lower investments in infrastructure and education facilities.Natan Dvir / Polaris Images
Samed Awad, 18, watching night fall over the Jewish neighborhood Givat Zeev from a hill next to his home in East Jerusalem. Samed says his family tries to have as little contact as possible with the Jewish residents since they want to avoid any unnecessary trouble. Natan Dvir / Polaris Images

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