Somaya Bashir, Muslim Arab Israeli Woman Calls for Arab Jewish Partnership

Somaya Bashir, Muslim Arab Israeli Woman Calls for Arab Jewish Partnership



Somaya Bashir, Muslim Arab Israeli Woman Calls for Arab Jewish Partnership
A Israeli Arab Genuine Voice for Peace

Stephen McArthur
Feb 13, 2026





The video above is Somaya Bashir proclaiming herself “ a proud Arab, Israeli, Muslim, and Palestinian woman…”

Here’s an article in the Times of Israel that reflects both a very hopeful development in Israel towards Arab-Jewish partnerships as well as an Arab-Israeli female led political campaign. See the story HERE.

A taste of the story:

“A psychologist and longtime activist from the northern village of Jatt, Bashir has established several non-profits, including “We Have No Other Land,” and has been a leader in the non-profit Women Wage Peace and a prominent figure in anti-government activist Moshe Radman’s organization “Anchor for the Future.”

Bashir said that as a hijab-wearing woman from a traditional village, she debated whether she wanted to enter the political fray, knowing the criticism she would face. But at 50, she told the Times of Israel that she has waited long enough. “I haven’t seen any change, so I decided to do it. If I don’t, nobody else will,” she said. As an Arab-Israeli, Bashir is not calling for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. Rather, she works against the second-class citizenship she experiences in Israel and for a peaceful homeland for the Palestinian homeland.

Generally speaking, most Americans are unaware of the Reuters and Times of Israel polls in Israel showing that Arab Israelis generally, as a majority, prefer to remain citizens of Israel rather than become citizens of a future Palestinian state, with many expressing a sense of "shared destiny" or connection, especially regarding personal security and economic opportunities. While they often identify as Palestinian, a significant portion (>50%) consistently prefers the stability of Israeli citizenship.

In an earlier Orwell’s Grave post, I wrote about a good friend, Nawaf Massalha, who was a protege of Yitzhak Rabin and the first Arab-Israeli member of the Knesset, who was dedicated to peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Sadly, he died of Covid in 2021.

Let’s celebrate those who understand and are willing to work for peace, whether in Israel or elsewhere around the world.










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