Who Are Israelis? Unpacking the Diversity of Israeli Society

Israeli identity links modern life to ancient Jewish roots. After nearly 2,000 years of exile, Jews returned from across the world, and after 1948 Israel absorbed huge waves from Europe, the Arab world, and beyond. The country revived Hebrew as a spoken language and forged a shared culture. Today, about a quarter of Israelis are not Jewish, and Israel balances being Jewish and democratic for all citizens.