Two Public Colleges in Israel

This paper summarizes the findings of a study conducted at two public colleges in Israel: the Academic College of Judea and Samaria (ACJS), Israel’s largest independent public college, and the Western Galilee College (WGC), a much smaller institution an extension of Bar Ilan University. The paper is based on the analysis of a survey completed by 459 students. This study examined three aspects related to the climate of the institution, and the fabric of the interpersonal relations between these two groups of students: (a) Arab students ’ perceptions of equality and consideration for minority groups; (b) Students ’ perceptions of the relationships between the two groups; (c) Arab students ’ apprehensions stemming from their minority status. Findings highlight a complex, mainly positive reality. Considerable findings stand in contrast to prevalent public beliefs, and to the situation on other campuses in Israel. The important lesson of this study is that- despite differences in religion, culture and nationality, despite the complexity of the minority experience in Israel, and despite the dark shadow cast on Arab-Jewish relations by the Israel-Palestinian conflict – a rather positive climate prevails on these campuses as far as the relations between these two groups is concerned.