The coexistence in Israel not shown in the news

Life in Israel is, above all, a great contrast in which many realities coexist at the same time.

In much of the international press and on social media, only the conflict between Jews and Arabs is intentionally highlighted, and in most cases, the Arab victims of that conflict.

Israel is demonized in a totally unjust, absurd, and hypocritical way, and above all, in many cases falsely—especially when viewed within the broader context of the conflict.

The contrast lies in the normal coexistence that takes place in many aspects of daily life between Jews and Arab citizens of Israel.

Not everything is perfect, but what stands out is a shared life in which there are undoubtedly many complex feelings on both sides—something that the vast majority of people who know Israel only through the press and social media are completely unaware of and likely cannot even imagine.

Beyond being the national home of the Jewish people since their origins as a people, Israel is the only country in the world where an enemy publicly declares its intention to exterminate it, and alongside that reality, life continues with normalcy, drive, and development worthy of note.

An example of this — highly representative and symbolic — is this scene I captured, in which Arab Muslim kindergarten teachers are seen strolling with Israeli Jewish children in a park next to a kindergarten in the center of the country.

The young Arab women carried the children with complete naturalness, warmth, and tenderness, and the affection was reciprocated by the little ones toward them.

Of course, reality is far more complex than this beautiful scene, but it is also 100% real and 100% part of this great contrast that is life in Israel.

This coexistence is not limited to these two Arab kindergarten teachers. Arab Israeli citizens, who make up 21% of the country’s population, exceed that percentage in the number of doctors and pharmacists, and there are also department heads in hospitals, bank managers, judges, police officers, as well as professionals in all fields of commerce, construction, and more.

The naturalness with which the parents of these children place them under the care and trust of these Arab kindergarten teachers is also noteworthy, given the feelings of concern, tension, and even distrust that are unfortunately normal due to the nature of the conflict and human nature itself—yet daily life proves to be stronger than those forces.