Project History

Rikaz Databank went online in March 2003. By September of that year, it reached "full strength," including all available information on the Palestinian population of Israel, in the following areas:

• Demography;
• Education;
• Employment;
• Labor force;
• Living standards; and
• Social indicators.

The raw data for Rikaz was taken from official Israeli government sources. It was then broken down, analyzed and interpreted in order to present it in one unified database. Official sources included:

• The most recent (1995) Household and Population Census of Israel;

• Israeli Labor Force Surveys (1998-2003);

• Updates from the Central Bureau of Statistics;

• National Insurance figures; and

• e-DTS population projections.*

In 2004, Rikaz was translated into Arabic, in order to increase the ability of its target population, Palestinian Arabs living in Israel, to harness its power. The databank was also made available free of charge. In September, new statistics were added reflecting the previous year´s labor force survey of Israel. That month, Rikaz embarked upon an ambitious new survey of Palestinians living in Israel. For the first time, Palestinians in Israel surveyed their own ethnic brethren. Due to the Galilee Society´s stature in the community and status as a trusted interlocutor, we believe that the results will present a clearer and therefore more profound picture than government figures of the status of Palestinians in Israel.

As an example of the type of information available on Rikaz, we have included here a graph illustrating the percentage of Arab women aged 15–25 that participate in the labor force.

Percentage of Arab Women (aged 15 – 24) participating in the labor force

The reason for the decrease in participation over the years is probably due to the fact that more women in this age group are seeking more education before entering the labor force.

Palestinian Arab Localities in Israel and their Local Authorities

This publication constitute on a general survey conducted by Rikaz in all the Arab localities and its local authorities. The publication including tables of findings and a special chapter focusing on the historical context the Arab society in Israel and its local authorities have been shaped. Its main purpose is to shading light on the findings. Without such context it will be very hard to understand the finding, their importance, and their meanings. In addition, the publication including a other special chapter dealing with the unrecognized Arab villages, their finding based on a special survey beside the general survey. Furthermore, the publication including two pages for each Arab locality in separate which summarizes the main findings of each. It has to be noted that in each case that the survey failed to supply any finding or any kind of findings, the writers were helped by the findings of the Israeli Bureau of Statistics after they examined and verified them.

The Arab Population in Northern Israel under State of Emergency Damages from the Second Israeli War on Lebanon

This report seeks to document the damages sustained by Arab community in Israel during the war, both individually and collectively, and to indicate areas of weakness within its organizations and institutions. It also aims to analyze these weaknesses, in order to address and prevent them from recurring in the future.

Socio-Economic Survey of Palestinians in Israel

During 2005, Rikaz, in conjunction with MADA – The Arab Center for Applied Social Research, completed its Socio-Economic Survey of Palestinians in Israel 2004. This was the first survey of the Palestinian minority in Israel done by and for that population. It surveyed a sample of 3,270 households in Palestinian towns and villages in Israel, recognized and unrecognized, and covered all aspects of the Palestinian socio-economic experience in Israel, including such little-studied topics as internally displaced Palestinians, their original villages and the villages and towns to which they were forced to migrate.

The Socio-Economic Survey provides statistical information on the following aspects of Palestinian life in Israel:

1. Main demographic characteristics of the Palestinian Arab community.
2. Community health conditions, including the rates of tobacco addiction, incidence of chronic diseases and handicaps, and prevalence of state-subsidized health insurance.
3. Educational characteristics, including the illiteracy rate, educational enrollments, and drop-out rates and causes.
4. Labor force status, the unemployment rate and the benefits available to employees (pension plans, insurance, etc.)
5. Housing and housing conditions, including type and tenure of housing units, construction material, number of rooms, availability of municipal services, number and kind of durable goods and the condition of the surrounding environment.
6. Household agricultural holdings, including size and kind.
7. Living standards and median monthly spending rate for perishable and non-perishable items.
8. Imposed taxes and benefits.
9. Justice and security, particularly in regards to criminal offences, time and location of occurrence, and any resulting harm.
10. Individual culture and participation in cultural and recreational activities such as reading, viewing plays and movies, sports engagement, and computer and internet usage.

A final report on the survey was published and a study day was held to disseminate the data. There are also plans to produce special reports on the findings, focusing on Palestinian women in Israel, health, and the unrecognized villages of the Naqab. Once completed, these special reports will be added to the Rikaz online databank.

Please click here to order your copy of the Socio-Economic Survey