Israel's Arab citizens and the peace process

The Sons of the Village were among the few political groups in Israel to make any reference to the impact of the accords on the lives of the Arab citizens of Israel. The Arab population in Israel gave the Israeli-Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) accords, signed in Washington in mid-September 1993, a warm reception. Encouraged by the new administration's dovish orientation, Israeli Arabs also intensified their involvement in the peace process. The ongoing invitations to Tunis indicated a new stage in the PLO's attitude toward the Arabs in Israel. A poll conducted in the Arab sector in February 1993 went into the question of what type of contact should be established between the Arabs in Israel and a future Palestinian entity. The Arab Hadash and Arab Democratic party Member of Knesset came out in full support of the PLO-Israeli agreement, yet their reaction was somewhat muted.