The Galilee Society held a conference on Monday, 13.9.2021 entitled: “Youth: Present and Future” to present the results of the survey of Palestinian youth in Israel (age 18-35), which was issued by Rikaz in the Galilee Society, and to discuss potential strategies and projects that aim at advancing the conditions of Palestinian youth in Israel.
Several specialists in different fields, such as health, labor force, education, identity and others, spoke at the conference. Among the audience were several politicians, Knesset members, researchers and academics, heads of local authorities, media professionals, civil society and shared society organizations, as well as youth centers.
A glimpse over the results of the survey:
The population of the Palestinian youth in Israel, ages 18-35, (not including Jerusalem and the Golan) is estimated at the end of 2019 at 439,200, who constitute 28.4% of the total Palestinian population in Israel, with a distribution of 48.9% females compared to 51.1% males, and in terms of marital status, 47.6% of the youth are single and 39.2% are married, and the percentage of divorced reaches 2.5%.
In terms of the economic situation, 61.1% of the youth stated that their income as a household is below the national average, and the participation rate in the labor market reached 64.7%, with 77.8% of males compared to 51.1% of females. It is noteworthy that 83.8% of working youth are employees, of whom 23.2% work in the public sector, 40.2% work in the Arab private sector, and 20.4% in the Jewish private sector, while 14.1% are self-employed. According to the data, the average net monthly income of a young individual is 6,979 shekels, and the individual’s income increases with age and educational attainment.
As for education, 19.9% of the youth group in general are enrolled in higher education, while 17.4% have completed their academic degrees and graduated. In addition, the data show that 10.4% of the youth group in general did not finish high school, with a distribution of 12% of males compared to 8.8% of females. On the other hand, 17.2% of the youth group in general have an academic degree (bachelors or above), 12.9% of the males compared to 21.5% of females.
The youth survey also examined the issue of identity among youth, and the data showed that 43.5% of the youth consider the Arab identity to be the identity that represents them more than other collective identities (Palestinian, religious and Israeli), while representation by the religious identity is prevalent among youth in the central and southern regions. In terms of volunteering and national service, 5.3% of Palestinian youth stated that they served in the military and 8.4% of them did national civic service (a distribution of 6.5% of males compared to 10.3% of females), 23.2% of males and 29.2% of females volunteered in the community.
With regard to health, the majority of youth (85.4%) define their personal health status as good or very good, although 11.5% stated that they suffer from chronic diseases, and 15.9% take medication regularly. As for unhealthy behaviors, 22.3% of youth smoke cigarettes, 41.4% of males and 2.8% of females, while the percentage of hookah smokers was 26.5%, (43.1 percent of males and 8.5% of females).
It is also inferred from the survey results that 42.5% of youth are active (they exercise and play sports), 40.6% of men and 44.5% of women. The percentage of youth active increases with the increase in educational attainment and the level of income, as the main motive for exercising is to maintain health and fitness. As for nutrition, 38.1% of young people eat fast food on a daily basis, 45.6% of females, compared to 30.8% of males. 53.2% of youth in general drink energy drinks once or more per day.
In addition, the survey examined the views and attitudes of the youth on many issues, such as marriage and immigration, as the data showed 39.3% of the Palestinian youth in Israel do not favor consanguineous marriage and 25.3% oppose it, 62.7% oppose mixed marriage (two different religions), and the majority of young men (77.2%) oppose early marriage, while the main obstacles to marriage among young males are the economic situation and lack of housing opportunities. As for young females, the main obstacle was the lack of a suitable partner at a rate of 54.9%.
In terms of social life, 79.8% of the youth expressed their satisfaction with their lives in general, and this percentage rises among married people (87%) compared to others (77.1%). 94.8% of employed youth reported they enjoy good relations with their colleagues at work.
68.5% of youth indicated that they have little to no trust at all in the government, 62.9% do not trust the police force, and 62.5% do not trust the Israeli parliament (the Knesset).
Also, 54.8% of the youth do not trust the Arab media in the country, and 47.9% have little trust in the High Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel.
It is also inferred from the survey results that 42.5% of youth are active (they exercise and play sports), 40.6% of men and 44.5% of women. The percentage of youth active increases with the increase in educational attainment and the level of income, as the main motive for exercising is to maintain health and fitness. As for nutrition, 38.1% of young people eat fast food on a daily basis, 45.6% of females, compared to 30.8% of males. 53.2% of youth in general drink energy drinks once or more per day.
In addition, the survey examined the views and attitudes of the youth on many issues, such as marriage and immigration, as the data showed 39.3% of the Palestinian youth in Israel do not favor consanguineous marriage and 25.3% oppose it, 62.7% oppose mixed marriage (two different religions), and the majority of young men (77.2%) oppose early marriage, while the main obstacles to marriage among young males are the economic situation and lack of housing opportunities. As for young females, the main obstacle was the lack of a suitable partner at a rate of 54.9%.
In terms of social life, 79.8% of the youth expressed their satisfaction with their lives in general, and this percentage rises among married people (87%) compared to others (77.1%). 94.8% of employed youth reported they enjoy good relations with their colleagues at work.
68.5% of youth indicated that they have little to no trust at all in the government, 62.9% do not trust the police force, and 62.5% do not trust the Israeli parliament (the Knesset).
Also, 54.8% of the youth do not trust the Arab media in the country, and 47.9% have little trust in the High Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel.
