But why?
Why is "Israeli" rejected (a normative Arab political move)?
This oped Why I Refuse to Identify as Israeli notes that
Journalist Samah Wattad, who was a guest on the podcast "The Left's Problem," said on air that she defines herself as Palestinian-Arab, a citizen of the state. Alon Idan, deputy editor of Haaretz Hebrew, asked her why she doesn't also define herself as Israeli.
This refusal to say "I am Israeli" arouses anger and accusations of ingratitude among many Israelis....
The columnist, Hanin Majadli, then continues and expresses her own view:
...Israeli liberals want us to demand a definition that excludes us. They don't want to recognize us as an equal national partner within Israeli identity, because that requires relinquishing Jewish exclusivity in the ownership of the state.
It is possible that, one day, Palestinians will be able to say that they're also Israeli. But for that to happen, Israeli identity will need to stop existing through the erasure and oppression of Palestinian identity. And until this change occurs, it's impossible to expect us to identify with a promise as if it's already been fulfilled."
For 110 years, at least, the official Arab position has been to erase Israel so why do we give you the benefit of the doubt?
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