Israeli Arabs Caught Between Their Pocketbooks and Their Hearts
- Palestinians who are Israeli citizens live better but are torn
- They are sympathetic to cousins in West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem
Palestinian university students shout slogans during a rally in Gaza City.
Photographer: Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Watan al-Qasim, an Israeli Arab businessman, was close to signing a deal to provide digital services to a Jewish-owned company when the client’s marketing manager phoned. Because of escalating Palestinian violence, he was canceling the order.
“He told me, ‘It’s not the right time for us,” said al-Qasim, owner and CEO of Lamsa Media, a digital media and advertising agency. “The Israeli public is upset about what’s going on and companies don’t want to be seen doing business with Arabs right now.”