The “Iron Swords” war, which began on October 7, 2023, has had far-reaching effects on Arab women in Israel, from the standpoint of both economic and personal security. Moreover, the damage wrought has wider social and economic implications that affect the strength of the family and the community, as well as Arab society in Israel in general and Israeli society as a whole.

With regard to employment, the employment rate of Arab women in Israel at the primary work ages (25-64) have increased sharply since 2012, reaching a high of 46% in September 2023 — the eve of the war. The increase in the employment rate was true for all age groups and was the result, among others, of the implementation (if only partial) of the previous Five Year Plan and of policies supporting employment of Arab citizens (resilience centers, vocational training, day care centers, infrastructure development and more). In the first months of the war, the employment rate of Arab women dropped to 41% (November 2023). At the same time, the employment rate of Arab men decreased from 77% to 66%.[1]

According to the Bank of Israel, the decrease in the employment rate of Arab women in October was similar to that of Jewish women. A common factor for both groups was the closure of educational frameworks following the outbreak of war. Jewish women were absent from work due to additional circumstances — the mobilization of their husbands. In view of the fact that this was not a factor for Arab women, it might be expected that the decrease in their employment rate would be lower than that of Jewish women.[2] As we will see, the fear of Arab women of working in a mixed environment may also have been a factor in the employment rate decrease. Moreover, according to the Bank of Israel, during the months of November and December 2023, the employment of Jewish and Arab women recovered to a similar degree, placing both three percentage points below the rates prior to the war. The same report indicated that Arab men, who experienced a greater decrease in their employment, registered a slower recovery.[3]  At the same time, it is important to keep in mind that Arab women’s employment rate has been the lowest among  Israel’s social groups and that their average salary is also very low (NIS 6,099 a month on average in 2021, compared with NIS 8,670 among all women).[4]

In addition to a decrease in their employment rate, numerous Arab women reported working fewer hours. The tensions between Arab and Jewish communities in Israel had the effect of limiting employment opportunities even more, especially in mixed environments; thus the harm done to Arab women’s employment is also connected to feelings of insecurity: 40% of women working in mixed Jewish-Arab work environments reported a decrease in working hours, compared with 27% of women working in Arab environments.[5]

A survey conducted among Arab hi-tech engineers in December 2023 revealed feelings of insecurity at work and in public places during the war, as well as significant fear of expressing their opinions. Those feelings were more salient among women, who had more qualms about going to work (30% of women, compared with 16% of men) and speaking Arabic at the workplace ( 19% of women, compared with 13% of men). Likewise, more women than men were afraid to show their presence in Jewish or mixed spaces (38% compared with 30%).[6]

Arab women’s lack of personal security is also connected with the high incidence of crime and murder in Arab society, as well as state neglect in this regard. And one can add the ease with which guns are licensed, leading to greater dissemination of both legal and illegal arms and subsequently greater dangers to women at home and in public places. Between 2020 and 2022, 27 Arab women were killed by guns, most of them illegally held.[7]

Cutbacks in five year plans for Arab society, whose aims are to narrow gaps and develop Arab society, and the freezing of balance grants to low-income local local authorities, have had an adverse effect on Arab society, especially on social welfare programs and resilience centers whose purpose is to support young people at risk, along with elderly and female victims of violence. In addition, the budgets of government ministries were cut, including those that deal with health, social welfare and education, which need to deal with challenges unknown in the past. These services find it difficult to provide assistance under conditions of acute lacks of budgets and personnel. Arab women employed in these services are faced with additional challenges. Thus, for example, a report of the Ad’ar Association points to the fact that the shortage of Arab social workers, who work for low wages and under conditions of psychological stress in a period of violence and national tensions, is exacerbated by feelings of rejection by their Jewish colleagues, along with feelings of helplessness, fear and the avoidance of any talk about political matters.[8]

Stemming the ongoing harm done to Arab women and to Arab society in Israel in general requires concerted efforts, as well as the investment of resources on the part of the central government and the local authorities, in order to create safe and supportive  environments in which Arab women can thrive both socially and economically. Such efforts are vital in order to prevent further deterioration in the socio-econlmic status of Arab women and to promote their full integration into Israeli society.