Glossary - Israel: An Introduction - page 331

Glossary
Ahdut HaAvoda — Labor Zionist party formed in the pre-state years as a faction of Mapai. It ran in-
dependently in the 1955, 1969, and 1961 elections and became Mapai's favored coalition partner,
running on a joint list with Mapai in 1965. It eventually joined with Mapai and Rafi to form the
Labor Party in 1968.
Aliya — Literally, “ascension”; Jewish immigration to Israel. See also First Aliya; Second Aliya; Third Aliya.
Arab Democratic Party — The fi rst solely Arab party to gain representation in the Knesset, which it did
in 1988. It became part of the United Arab List in 1996.
Armistice agreements — Bilateral ceasefi re agreements between Israel and Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and
Jordan negotiated in 1949 that ended the fi ghting but not the state of war between them.
Ashkenazic — Refers to Jews of European origin as well as the form of Jewish religious practice in most
of Europe. The name originates from the Jewish word in the Middle Ages for areas of what later
became Germany.
Balad (National Democratic Alliance)— Nationalist Arab political party established in 1996 that calls
for the creation of a binational state in Israel. Attempts have twice been made and overturned by
Israel's Supreme Court (2003 and 2009) to ban the party for supporting terrorist organizations.
Balfour Declaration — The 1917 declaration by Great Britain proclaiming support for the establishment
of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Basic Laws — Laws passed by the Knesset that have superior authority, on the level of a constitution.
Bedouin — Semi-nomadic Arabs organized on a tribal basis who in Israel live primarily in the Negev and
Galilee.
Beta Israel — The name by which Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to Israel refer to their community.
Bourekas fi lms — Films popular in the 1960s and 1970s that dealt with ethnic tensions between Mizrahi
and Ashkenazic Jews.
Camp David Accords — The 1978 agreement between Israel and Egypt in which Israel agreed to return the
Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in exchange for full peace. This led to the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty.
Camp David summit — Negotiations in July 2000 between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with the
United States hosting, during which Arafat rejected Israel's offer for opening comprehensive peace
negotiations.
Clinton plan — The December 2000 proposal accepted by Israel and rejected by the Palestinians that
would have established a Palestinian state in 95 percent of the West Bank, made east Jerusalem the
Palestinian capital, ended the confl ict between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and resettled
all Palestinian refugees in a Palestinian state.
Dati (plural: Datim)— Literally, “religious”; refers to those Jews who couple full religious observance
with the integration of modern ideas; generally called Modern Orthodox in the West.
Dayan (plural: dayanim)— Religious judge who sits on a rabbinical court.