Zionism, Post-Zionism and Fear of Arabness

In this paper I discuss the fear of Arabness expressed by Jews of European and American origin, often called in Hebrew Ashkenazim. I explore the impact of the expressions of fear on Jews of Arab origin and the Jews of Moslem countries who have lived in Israel since the establishment of the state - often referred to as Mizrahim. Texts of Post-Zionist and postcolonial critics of Arab-Jewishness shed light on the experience of Mizrahim and Palestinians of being feared. In the last part of the discussion I present some of the Mizrahim’s political reaction to this experience.