n August 2016, a young journalist named Nader Al-Sarras spotted an interesting bag on the Metro in Berlin, and promptly posted a photo of it to his Twitter account. The bag was carrying the following text: لا يوجد اي هدف لهذا النص الا نشر الرعب في نفوس من يهاب اللغة العربية, meaning: "This text has no other purpose than to terrify those who are afraid of the Arabic language". This message, which was intended to 'terrify' Islamophobes, caused a stir in the realm of social media. Although the message was spread mainly in Europe, as a response to the wave of Islamophobia sweeping the European nations, the bag itself was designed in Israel, by the ‘Rock Paper Scissors Factory’ - a young team of Palestinian designers living in Haifa.

In an article published by the Telegraph in August 2016, the designers say that the main goal in their art is to make the Arabic language present in the urban sphere, as it is starting to disappear from signs and public places. "Arabic is our language, and a part of who we are, and we think it should be part of our urban landscape. In Israel, anyone wearing a T-shirt with printed Arabic words uses it as a political statement". This small example emphasizes the important role of language in our lives, as both a local and a global issue.

Language is far more than a means of communication. In many cases, language is a significant tool that allows us to reduce alienation, ignorance and racism, caused by not understanding the 'other'. Therefore, there is strong connection between language, identity and politics. In multicultural societies, and conflict areas more specifically, language can be considered a tool to either maintain or resolve conflicts that involve an element of fear, within or between communities. Focusing on the role of the Arabic language in Israel, my point of departure in this article is that language is the gateway to bridging the gap between different communities within a multicultural society. 

While Arabic is considered one of Israel's official languages, and despite the fact that over 20% of Israel's population are Arab citizens, a study by the Van Leer Institute finds that most Israeli Jews cannot speak or understand it. A survey conducted last year by Tel-Aviv University, the Van-Leer institute and Dirasat Center, showed that less than 17% of the Jewish population in Israel claims to be capable of conducting a conversation in Arabic, and less than 7% can read or write. Therefore, there is a significant gap between the formal status of a language and the de facto reality, which raises the question: in a reality in which knowing the minority's language is not an existential necessity, why should we learn it? 

As the demographics and politics in the new-born State of Israel changed, the central status of Arabic in the national public sphere changed as well. After the 1948 War, and the expulsion of over 750,000 Palestinians, Jews became the country’s majority, and created a hegemonic Hebrew-speaking community, taking over the place of Arabic as the official first language. After each war, Arabic became increasingly perceived as the enemy's language, feeding into a strong alienation towards it, and even causing Mizrahi Jews originating from Arab majority countries to neglect their mother tongue in an attempt to assimilate in Israel, where speaking Hebrew was a nation-building priority.

Returning to the question: Why should we, as Israeli Jews, learn Arabic? In the context of our reality, and having consideration for the implications of our relationship and shared history with the Palestinians and the Arab world, since 1882 (first Aliyah) until today, one finds, at least, three reasons to do so. 

To begin with, language is the cornerstone of communication, enabling us to overcome fears deriving from not understanding each other’s world. When one is not familiar with the other, the 'other' becomes far more distant from the 'self', an equation that is valid not only for individuals, but also for communities within a society.  This lack of linguistic knowledge increases the potential for conflicts and political instability within a society, since the individual becomes more suspicious and alienated from the other standing in front of him or her. Moreover, in an article published in 2001, Daniel Bar-Tal, whose research focuses on the psychological aspects of conflict, claims that the dominant nature of fear and its implications as an emotion, makes it a crucial phenomenon in multicultural societies, and specifically in divided and conflicted societies. Therefore, he concludes “the ability to speak the other’s language, enables dialogue” and thus significantly reduces the fear of the other. 

Secondly, language can help create a more egalitarian environment. The formal status of Arabic as an official language in Israel was declared in 1948, following the mandatory instruction from 1922, but raising the requirement to conduct a bilingual policy, in which Arabic is also present in the government, administration, signs, and the urban sphere. However, the reality (as demonstrated by the bag story above), is quite the opposite. Therefore, a policy of learning Arabic will help reduce the structural inequality, enable the Arab minority to receive their rights, and improve Israel's treatment of minorities.                

Lastly there is the issue of identity. It is clear that for the Arab citizens, the presence of Arabic in their daily surroundings is conducive to their sense of identity. For the Israeli Jews, Arabic connects them to their Middle Eastern identity; therefore, used as a common ground for both identities, Arabic can help us to better connect. As Israel is a part of the Middle East, we may strengthen this part of our identity through the presence of Arabic, which will allow us to better know our region, and its people. Another part of this motivation relates to the Mizrahi Jews, who constitute around 50% of Israel's Jewish population. Learning Arabic will enable them to better connect to their family roots, and will allow all Israeli Jews to better connect to elements in Israel's history and culture.         

Through education, and learning a language, one also learns the culture, and becomes more open to accepting the other. Therefore, looking ahead, before reaching any future peace agreement, I believe Israel should lay down the infrastructure by teaching spoken Arabic in every single school.