"Israel has over a million Arab citizens."

Supporters argue that the existence of over 2 million Arab citizens in Israel, roughly 20% of the population, disproves claims of apartheid. They point to Arab members of the Knesset, access to education, and participation in public life as evidence that Israel is a pluralistic democracy where all citizens enjoy equal rights regardless of ethnicity or religion. This narrative is often used to frame Israel as fundamentally different from regimes based on racial segregation, suggesting that formal citizenship inherently guarantees inclusion and equality.

While Israel does include around 2 million Palestinian Arab citizens, these individuals face structural exclusion. Key laws like the 2018 Nation-State Law define Israel as a state for Jews only, and Palestinians displaced in 1948, roughly 4 – 5 million people, are denied return and citizenship based on ethnicity, despite eligibility. Arab citizens live under second‑class conditions, denied residency rights for spouses from the occupied territories.

Discrimination is systematic: less than 4% of state and Jewish National Fund land is allocated to Arab citizens even though they form over one-fifth of the population, no new Arab town has been established since 1948, and major budget disparities persist. NGOs like Adalah and Mossawa document persistent inequalities in planning, development, and representation. These patterns conform to international definitions of apartheid, where citizenship does not guarantee equality.