MINORITY EDUCATIONAL AUTONOMY RIGHTS: THE CASE OF ARAB-PALESTINIANS IN ISRAEL.

The Arab-Palestinian minority in Israel - some 20% of the country's citizens - constitute both a substantial national minority and an indigenous minority. Nevertheless, the Arab education system does not reflect basic international minority rights standards; it is characterized by unequal allocation of state resources, lack of recognition of the Arab-Palestinian minority's cultural needs and marginalization of Arab leadership in policy decision-making. This stands in stark contradiction to international law which provides for equality in educational outputs and financial allocations, the right to shape one's identity and to establish educational priorities for oneself and one's community and, no less importantly, minorities' right to manage their own education system. Although Israel has ratified most relevant conventions this article argues that it has yet to enshrine or apply such standards in domestic legislation or practice. Following an analysis of educational autonomy for the Arab Palestinian minority through the lens of international and domestic legal standards, the article highlights Palestinian civil society initiatives seeking to promote educational autonomy. In line with suggestions for reform promoted by the community and taking into account current legal standards, the article will conclude with a series of recommendations intended to achieve this aim.