“Diversity” in Arab Society in Israel: The Islamic Movement as an Example

Abstract

This article examines the realization of the idea of “diversity” by the Islamic Movement, how it is reflected in the movement in Israel; the behavioral pattern of the movement within Arab society; and the relationship of the movement with the Israeli state and the Jewish public. It is observed that at the beginning of the movement, the level of diversity within the movement was minimal since it refused to cooperate with others. But later on the movement gradually began to cooperate with state institutions, and with various social and political centers. It may therefore be said that the more a movement encounters reality the more enhanced its level of diversity becomes. This means that the movement shows openness towards others under constraints of reality and group interest that oblige it to cooperate with others in order to survive.