ATTITUDES OF THE ARAB CITIZENS OF ISRAEL TOWARDS THE CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE DAY DURING THE PERIOD OF MILITARY RULE 1948-1966

Abstract

This research will examine the relationship of the Arab citizens of the State of Israel to the Independence Day celebrations during the period of military rule. Independence Day is considered as the highest degree to show belonging and national identity. The Arabs are the citizens of the state, the Palestinians are the citizens of the state, the Arabs of Israel are all the same names for the citizens who were converted with the declaration of the state of Israel as a minority within their homeland. The research question is why did Arab citizens celebrate Independence Day during the period of military rule, especially in the first decade of the establishment of the State of Israel? In order to get the answer, I used two sources and analyzed their content. The first source is the articles that were written in Al-Ittihad newspaper between the years 1949-1958. The second source is ten interviews I conducted in 2016 with ten women and men. I found that people's motives were different, but they were not naive, and varied between the desire to join the state or the desire to enjoy the only freedom day available during the year. Or perhaps the desire to be part of modernity. And most of them with the end of the military rule ended their desire to celebrate. Whoever remained, despite the outward appearance, was the celebration, but the inner part was still linked to the roots.‎