Muslims in Israel

Israel’s Minority Religious Communities: Hatred, Reality, and Rights

When people hear the name Israel, the first reaction many have is – hatred. This reaction is especially strong among Muslims. The reason lies in the historical and religious foundations of Islam’s negative attitude toward Jews; in Islam’s primary scriptures, Jews are directly referred to as enemies. Many Muslims believe that Israel is inherently hostile to Muslims, and that Jews are the sworn enemies of Muslims. Behind this belief are religious interpretations, historical conflicts, and modern geopolitical realities. But if we look beyond this mindset and analyze Israel’s internal social structure – particularly the rights and living standards of minority religious communities – a different picture emerges. Just to note, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report, Israel ranks 8th among the top 10 countries with the happiest people in the world.

Historical Context of Religious Hatred

The history of Jewish-Muslim relations is ancient. Conflicts began in the early Islamic era with the Jewish tribes of Medina, resulting in exile, war, and massacres. Later, in Muslim empires, Jews were treated as “dhimmi” – second-class citizens. Similarly, in Christian Europe, Jews faced persecution, massacres, and exile, culminating in Hitler’s Nazi Germany.

Due to this long history of marginalization, Jews today make up less than 1% of the global population. Yet they have established one of the world’s most discussed and criticized states – Israel – which has political tensions with most Muslim-majority countries.

Israel’s Religious Demographics and Secularism

Israel’s total population is about 9 million, of which approximately 18% are Muslims, 2% Christians, and 73–75% are of Jewish descent. However, the term “Jewish” here refers to ethnicity, not religion. According to a 2015 Gallup survey, around 65% of Israelis identified as “non-religious” or “confirmed atheists,” a number that has dramatically increased over the past decade. About 40% identify as “secular.” In other words, the majority of Israelis do not prioritize religion in their daily lives. If you ask them what their religion is, you might hear “none.” Yes, you heard correctly – most Israelis are not religious Jews. They may have been born into Jewish families but do not identify as Jewish. Naturally, one can assume that the proportion of non-religious, atheist, or secular individuals is lower among Muslims.

This secularism plays an important role in Israeli society. Discrimination based on religious identity is minimal, and civil rights are mostly determined by secular laws.

Status and Rights of Muslims

About 2 million Muslims live in Israel, primarily of Arab descent, and have been citizens for generations. They hold full Israeli citizenship, which grants them voting rights, legal protection, and access to civic benefits. This Muslim population is an integral part of Israeli society, actively participating in education, healthcare, employment, business, and religious activities.

In education, Muslim students attend both public and private schools, and many pursue higher education at universities. In cities like Haifa, Nazareth, and Jerusalem, Muslim-majority areas have religious schools and madrasas that offer Islamic education. Muslim teachers are employed in public schools, and they have representation in educational administration.

In healthcare, Muslims receive treatment in public hospitals and clinics, and many Muslim doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers play vital roles in Israel’s health system. For example, Muslim physicians regularly work at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, serving patients regardless of religion or ethnicity.

Muslims are also significantly active in employment and business. They work in both public and private sectors – including administration, technology, construction, transportation, and media. Many Muslim entrepreneurs run small and medium-sized businesses such as restaurants, shops, transport companies, and tech startups.

Muslims freely participate in religious activities. In various Israeli cities, Muslims have their own mosques where they pray, organize Taraweeh and Iftar during Ramadan, and celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Muslim religious leaders (Imams) provide religious education and social leadership. There are Sharia Courts for Muslims, where family and marital matters are resolved according to Islamic law.

To perform Hajj, Muslims use Israeli passports to travel to Saudi Arabia. The Israeli government provides administrative support for Muslim citizens to undertake Hajj. Every year, hundreds of Muslims travel from Israel to perform Hajj.

This reality indicates that Muslims in Israel enjoy not only tolerance but also active civil rights and religious freedom. Although there are some structural challenges and social inequalities, Muslims can live safe, dignified, and religiously free lives there.

Example: Muslim Mayors and Members of Parliament

Muslim mayors have been elected in various Israeli cities, representing active minority participation in local governance. For example, the city of Nazareth – Israel’s largest Arab city – currently has a Muslim mayor. Muslim and Christian Arabs have long held political leadership in this city, contributing to civic services, education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

Additionally, Muslim members are regularly elected to Israel’s national parliament, the Knesset. In the 25th Knesset of 2025, there are at least 10 Arab members, several of whom are Muslim. They primarily represent the “United Arab List (Ra’am),” “Hadash-Ta’al,” and “Balad” parties. These members participate in legislative processes and debates concerning Muslim citizens’ rights, education, healthcare, land allocation, and religious freedom.

Notable Muslim Members of Parliament include:

Iman Khatib-Yasin: A female Muslim MP who is active in issues related to religion and women’s rights.
Through their parliamentary work, efforts are made to secure budget allocations for Muslims, improve educational institutions, expand access to healthcare, and reform land policies. Despite many political limitations, the presence of Muslim MPs is a significant aspect of minority inclusion in Israel’s democratic framework.

Mansour Abbas (United Arab List): Participated in Israel’s mainstream coalition government, setting a new precedent for protecting minority rights.

Ahmad Tibi (Ta’al): A veteran MP who has long spoken on behalf of the Arab population.

Religious Freedom and Minority Rights

According to Freedom House’s 2025 report, Israel is classified as a “Free” country, where political rights and civil liberties are generally protected. Although Arab minorities face some structural inequalities – such as budget shortfalls, disparities in education, and limited local government authority – religious freedom is widely upheld.

A survey found that 83% of Israeli Jews support religious freedom, including 71% of “National Religious” Jews [Source: Boulder Jewish News, 2025].

Christian and Druze Communities

Approximately 180,000 Christians live in Israel, most of whom are Arab. They operate churches, provide religious education, and celebrate Christian festivals. Although they occasionally face attacks from extremist Jewish groups, their religious rights are officially recognized by the state.

The Druze community serves in the Israeli military and expresses loyalty to the state. As a result, they receive certain additional benefits, such as access to government jobs and educational institutions.

Non-religious and Atheist Population

Israel’s non-religious population – including atheists, agnostics, and secular thinkers – is considered a significant and influential force in society. They distance themselves from religious rituals, customs, and institutions. This group strongly supports religious freedom and believes in the separation of religion and state. They argue that state policies should not favor any religion but must ensure equal rights for all citizens – regardless of faith. This perspective strengthens Israel’s democratic framework and helps protect the rights of religious minorities.

The presence of non-religious individuals helps maintain balance in Israel’s religious policies. For example, when extremist religious groups attempt to impose religious doctrines through laws or policies, secular and atheist communities respond with reasoned opposition in parliament, courts, and media. This ensures religious tolerance and pluralism in state policy.

Additionally, non-religious citizens contribute significantly to education, science, technology, and culture. Their ideas accelerate Israel’s innovation and promote free thinking and rational discourse in society. The presence of secular thinkers in universities, research institutions, and media plays a vital role in building Israel’s knowledge-based society.

Overall, Israel’s non-religious population is not only significant in numbers but also serves as a balancing force in terms of ideology and policy. They play a crucial role in upholding religious freedom, freedom of expression, and the establishment of reason and humanity in state policies.

Muslim Quality of Life and Security

Muslims in Israel generally live safe lives. Under the national security framework, they enjoy civil protection and do not face institutional persecution based on religious identity. In terms of food security, Muslim-majority areas have well-organized markets, food supply systems, and effective government support. They can freely consume halal food, and special arrangements are made for Iftar and Suhoor during Ramadan.

Muslims have access to education and healthcare services, and they actively participate in these sectors. Muslim students study in both public and private schools and have opportunities for higher education. Their presence at the university level is steadily increasing, especially in fields like technology, law, and medicine. Many Muslim teachers are employed in public schools, and they also have representation in educational administration.

Muslims have made significant contributions to the healthcare sector. In hospitals across Haifa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv, Muslim doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers serve regularly. For example, at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, Muslim physicians treat patients regardless of religion, ethnicity, or language. They also participate in medical research and play an important role in Israel’s healthcare system.

Muslim participation in the tech sector is also growing. Many young Muslim entrepreneurs are founding startups, particularly in software development, cybersecurity, and mobile app creation. Muslim innovators have contributed to Israel’s reputation as the “Startup Nation,” although their role is comparatively less highlighted.

Muslims are also active in business and commerce. They operate small and medium-sized enterprises – such as restaurants, transportation services, construction, and retail. Muslim business owners contribute to the local economy, and many are creating employment opportunities in Israeli Arab regions.

This reality indicates that Muslims in Israel not only live safely but also contribute across various levels of society. They enjoy civil rights, religious freedom, and professional recognition – privileges that are not guaranteed for minorities in many Muslim-majority countries.

Question: Do Minorities Want to Leave the Country?

The answer to this question is – no. Among Israeli Muslims, there is no significant tendency to seek asylum in Europe or America. They are not eager to leave the country; rather, they consider their position as Israeli citizens to be safe and stable. This is a notable reality, especially when compared to other Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East.

According to UNHCR’s 2024 statistics, a total of 123.2 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced, including 36.8 million refugees and 8.4 million asylum seekers. The largest groups of asylum seekers came from Syria (6.0 million), Afghanistan (5.8 million), and South Sudan (2.3 million). In contrast, there is no significant record of Israeli Muslims seeking asylum or emigrating.

Eurostat’s 2024 report shows that approximately 912,000 people applied for asylum in the European Union for the first time. The top three nationalities among them were Syria (147,965), Venezuela (72,775), and Afghanistan (72,155). Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Syria make up a large portion of asylum seekers in Europe, reflecting political instability, economic hardship, insecurity, and human rights crises in their respective countries.

These statistics are real evidence of Israel’s internal stability and its ability to ensure the rights of minority Muslims. Israeli Muslims have access to education, healthcare, employment, and political participation. As a result, they see their future in Israel – not in any other country.

Have you ever heard of an Israeli Muslim applying for political asylum in Europe, America, or Arab countries? Do you have any statistics that contradict this claim? If not, then this proves that Israel has successfully built an effective and safe state system for its minority Muslim citizens.

Islam vs. Israel: Rethinking the Narrative

Although Islam mandates hostility and negative attitudes toward Jews, reality often diverges from religious interpretations. Muslims in Israel enjoy religious freedom, participate in social and political activities, and live safely. Therefore, the notion that “Israel is the enemy of Muslims” needs to be reconsidered.

Israel is a complex state, with an internal social structure shaped by religion, ethnicity, and politics. Minority religious communities – especially Muslims – enjoy civil rights, religious freedom, and social security. Although some structural inequalities exist, minorities in Israel are in a better position than those in many Muslim-majority countries.

This reality teaches us that instead of religious hatred, we should evaluate society and the state based on logic, facts, and human values. If our perception of Israel is shaped solely by religious emotion, we risk distancing ourselves from reality.