Urban Restructuring in Israeli Arab Settlements

In: Middle Eastern studies, Band 30, Heft 2, S. 330-350

Abstract

An evaluation of the economic aspects of urban restructuring in Arab settlements within Israel highlights the Arab dependence on Israel's progressive economy & growth through modernization. In forty years, a great majority of once traditional Arab settlements in Israel have converted in discrete stages to a more urban configuration. These stages include: a traditional settlement stage prior to 1954, centered around subsistence farming; & a dependence stage, 1955-1967, during which day labor employment opportunities for Arabs in Israel resulted in greater incomes & an accumulation of capital. At the same time, a higher fertility rate & the increased population of the settlement produced a residential building boom favoring modern housing. Growth in the Arab services sector also contributed to the development of an Arab market economy. The period 1967-1982 was marked by a dormant phase of urbanization, with relatively little employment mobility for Arabs working in the Israeli labor market. While few outstanding changes are noted in key urbanization measures since 1983, Arabs have tentatively worked toward integration with the modern Israeli state. J. Sadler