Honorable members of the Knesset, honorable committee members, honorable Father Gabriel.
I define myself a proud Arab, Muslim, Zionist Israeli.
“Zionist” means that I support the right of the Jewish people
to have a country of its own in the holy land
the land of Israel.
This is a right and not a favor.
The Jewish nation suffered throughout all of history, including genocide.
And even today, there are many people who want the destruction of the Jewish state and the Jewish people.
This nation deserves its own country. Again – by right and not as a favor.
I want to say, as an Arab woman who is familiar with Israeli advocacy, in Israel and abroad
I want to say to all the Arabs, especially the Israeli Arabs: wake up.
We live in Paradise.
A million Arabs live in the State of Israel alongside Jews
and they are not suffering like the Arabs who are controlled by Arabs.
In Israel there is Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Religion.
Only in Israel, Muslims, Christians and Druze live in conditions that they don’t enjoy in Arab countries.
Arab Israelis are not prepared to leave Israel because this is paradise. And they know it.
I believe that the citizens of the State of Israel, regardless of their religion are first and foremost Israeli.
Just as Muslims and Jews who live in France. One is French Muslim, one is French Jew.
Only Israel is a real democracy that accepts the other and different
without preference to race, gender, religion and colour.
Of course not everything is perfect, there is room for improvement.
But a perfect country exists only in theory and not in real life.
For me, the flag of the state is my flag.
And ‘Hatikvah’ [Israeli national anthem] is my national anthem.
Whether good or bad, easy or difficult, wealthy or poor, this is my country.
There is no citizenship without loyalty.
Israel is the country of all of its citizens.
We the minorities must fulfill our duties as citizens.
When I say minorities, I mean Druze, Bedouins, Christians, Muslims, Circassians
All have a national and civic duty to serve in the Israel Defense Forces, and to be a contributing member of society.
You get your rights - fulfill your duties.
