From a structural perspective, it appears that the situation represented by the ethnocratic governance system remains dominant in Israel. The recent period has witnessed significant events continuously affecting the relations between Jews and Palestinians. However, these events have not curbed or changed the processes of "repressive consolidation" and "creeping apartheid" that were emphasized in the book. In this regard, after some consideration, one can conclude that the analyses and ideas presented in the book "Ethnocracy" have proven to be accurate and credible.
The author of the book, Israeli researcher and professor Professor Oren Yiftachel, in a special introduction to the Arabic edition, emphasizes his commitment to the Israeli society and peaceful coexistence between Jews and Palestinians. He believes that publishing the book in both Hebrew and Arabic is necessary, even though this approach does not align with the global orientation of the Israeli academic institution. He argues that this dual publication is essential for these research findings to reach a wider audience and contribute to meaningful dialogue and progress beyond tired slogans and fixed formulations.
He states that five years have passed since the original book, "Ethnocracy," was published in English. During this time, many things have changed, but many others have remained the same. Structurally, it seems that the ethnocratic governance system remains dominant. The period has witnessed important events affecting the relations between Jews and Palestinians continuously, without significantly curbing or altering the processes of "repressive consolidation" and "creeping apartheid" highlighted in the book. In this regard, after some consideration, one can conclude that the analyses and ideas presented in the book "Ethnocracy" have proven to be accurate and credible.
Furthermore, in light of these changes and progress made in his work, the Arabic version of the book includes some differences from the English version. It retains the foundational chapters explaining how ethnic political systems are formed and their structural consequences. Additionally, four new chapters delve deeper into the main axes of the system, which were not fully covered in the previous edition. These new chapters explore issues related to religion, culture, urban cultural diversity, spatial planning, and the Bedouin issue. They also expand on colonial elements within the Israeli system and the areas of struggle and progress toward democracy and equality, as evident in various regions and communities.
In conclusion, the author hopes that the Arabic-speaking reader pays attention to the last two chapters of the book, which present two possible scenarios for the future. One focuses on the central flashpoint of the conflict, which is Jerusalem, while the other deals with Israel/Palestine as a whole. Both scenarios are based on respecting the rights of Palestinians and Jews to self-determination and developing logical and fair frameworks for dealing with the territorial space of Israel/Palestine.
