Not Enemy Israels Jews From Arab Lands

by Rachel Shabi

'Shabi's important book is a wake-up call to modern Israeli society' Jewish Chronicle Mention Israel and internal conflict, and most people immediately think of the seemingly insoluble Palestinian problem. However, as Rachel Shabi explains in this acclaimed book, there is another crucial division within Israeli society: between Ashkenazi Jews, whose families come from Europe, and Sephardic or Mizrahi Jews, who come from the Arab countries of the Middle East. Herself from an Iraqi Jewish family, Shabi explores the history of this relationship, tracing it back to the first days of the new state of Israel. In a society desperate to identify itself with Europe, immigrants who spoke Arabic and followed Middle Eastern customs were seen as inferior. Sixty years later, such prejudices are still in force. As Shabi demonstrates, Mizrahis are strikingly less successful than Ashkenazis, condemned, often, to substandard education, low-quality housing and mockery for their accents, tastes and lifestyles. Not only does this damage Mizrahi lives and hopes; it also reflects a wider Israeli rejection of the Middle East and its culture that makes it impossible for Israel ever to become integrated within its own region. 'an eye-opening book ... 'Not the Enemy' is a disturbing and important document, which should be read by everyone worried about what its author calls the 'corrosive, entrenched polarity' of the Middle East.' Gerald Jacobs, Daily Telegraph 'Shabi's account of the Mizrahis' vibrant culture is fascinating. So too is her investigation of the discrimination Mizrahis have suffered.' Financial Times Winner of the Sephardic Culture Mimi S. Frank Award, US National Jewish Book Awards Rachel Shabi was born in Israel to Iraqi parents and grew up in England. A journalist, she has written for a variety of national and international newspapers, including the Guardian, the Sunday Times, and the Independent.

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle East, History, Jewish, Israel, Judaism, Politics

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2009

Reviews

[Hamza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't let the average rating on here fool you; most of the other reviews are from butthurt Zionists who didn't expect the book to be so "critical" of Israel. Truth be told, I considered giving it five stars, but it wasn't quite at classic status. Regardless, it's a very informative history book that showcases very real discrimination in Israel, and not the obvious form against Palestinians. Even many Jews themselves have felt out-of-place due to a pro-Ashkenazi narrative about Israel's origin and current nature. Don't hesitate to read this book if you have an open mind and feel like learning something.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

the author seems to have huge bias for Iraqi jews, might because she is decendant from them, but she seems rather narrow minded when she makes broad generalizations about the differences between ashkenazi and mizrahi, maybe because I was raised with little of both cultures it seems strange to look at them as seperate, slight differences yes, but not alien to each other. Glad I read to be more informed, just wish I could ask her some questions, I need some clarification.

[Kathlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book and an insight into the racial hatred that is deeply embedded into Israeli culture and psyche. Ironic - the very people that give Israel its ties to the land are those they want to silence and hide.

[Sabah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revelatory book on racism in Israel by a Jewess. Arab Jews 'hate' European ones! From Israel's founding, Euro Jews stereotyped Arab Jews as backward and 'fake', & systematically segregated, pushed into ghettos, & removed them from academic & political life. They were wrongly lured from a peaceful coexistence in Arab lands, a decision that has impoverished and devastated their culture. However, her writing is vague, elementary, and often biased.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew very little about Jews from Arab countries like Iraq and ethnic and cultural diversity among Jews in Israel prior to reading this book--and I'd previously taken a class on Modern Judaism. It really enriched and complicated my understanding of Israel's founding and Palestinian-Israeli tensions.

[Claire · Rating 1 out of 5]

yeah....couldn't finish this one. i could not handle the writing style. it sounded like such an interesting topic, but i didn't enjoy a single paragraph. i never would have guessed this was written by someone who actually writes for a living.
i thought for a long time i might come back to it, and give it another shot. but now it's at the thrift store, so that's that.

[Aaron Sabin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The topic is extremely interesting, especially as an American Sephardic/Mizrahi Jew. It taught me about the intra-religious tensions in Israel, which I knew existed but not about in detail. For people already familiar with Sephardic/Mizrahi history, you will not likely learn very much in this book. The author focuses heavily on Moroccan and Iraqi perspectives, but does not do much to distinguish between the Jewish cultures within the various middle eastern countries (i.e. Syrians have a very different view of their historical relationship with Arab muslims than do Iraqis). She highlights Jewish nostalgia for pre-Israeli life, and contrasts it with the current strong anti-Arab sentiment in Mizrahi communities, but does almost nothing to explain how or why these feelings would coexist. She certainly glosses over the cultural differences between Arab Muslims and Mizrahi Jews in their pre-Israeli homes - they lived in separate neighborhoods for the most part, spoke different dialects, went to different schools, had different professions, etc. I am loath to believe that she is unaware of these facts, but instead think that these facts are inconvenient to her narrative.

The best chapters are easily "Talk This Way" and "Everyone Deserves Music." If I were to recommend this book, I would recommend only reading those two chapters, as they can stand on their own.

Aside from the content, I found the quality of writing to be mediocre.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read almost 20 years after its publication, We Look Like the Enemy explains a whole lot about how things work (or still aren't quite working) in Israel. It's fascinating, full of history, linguistic and cultural details that make it an enriching and rewarding read. The book zooms in on the variety of Jewish experiences - living in and leaving Palestine, landing in other places (here, for example, the fascinating story of Babylonian Jews) and finally moving to the nascent State of Israel, by choice or basically forced emigration (not all Jews are with the Zionist cause). It gives a clear overview of how the new State got quickly populated - the efforts, the pioneer spirit, as well as underground operations and even manipulations to make as many Jews as possible converge to one place - but also of the social costs: the discrimination and plain racism at play among Jews once in Israel. (Not to mention how this can impoverish Jewish culture in general and make Jewish identity unnecessarily complicated.) The day they'll make peace with the Arab-Jew among them (and within themselves, for some Mizrahi!) is possibly the day they'll make peace with Palestinians and the region at large - where they're geographically, historically and culturally situated.

[Garry Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teaching English in Msallata, Libya, a colleague got arrested for taking photos of a neglected and vandalised Jewish cemetery. A year later, in Zawiyah, a student told me that the neighbourhood he lived used to be all “yehud”, all Jews, but they were all long gone. I wondered, what were they like? Being Jewish and Libyan seemed like an odd idea in a very polarised region, so soon after 9/11.

Assuming Zawiyah’s Jews went to Israel, Rachel Shabi gives some idea of what their lives would have been like. Maybe years in a transit camp which evolved into a town. Manual work whilst the Europeans got the best jobs and housing. But they stayed, even when Ghaddafi suggested they return in 2004.

My friend was released after a day in the police station, where he was well treated. He was completely English, domiciled in France, and remained coy about why he was taking photos in that cemetery. I didn’t ask him if he was Jewish. Well, we don’t, do we? He did give his rationale for the arrest: the Libyan authorities were embarrassed about the vandalism, and didn’t want it known.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Having your identity aligned with the dominant culture should always be the main strategy (rather than “code switching” constantly). This allows you to truly understand, thus embracing the dominant societal codes. Otherwise you’d spend rest of your life confused, angry and utterly inefficient

- However, having an alternative view point - let it be due to your background or your travels or studies - is absolutely advantageous compared to ones who stick with the dominant culture and nothing else. Having alternative points and having the ability to embrace modularistic thinking means that you can market to different kinds of people who might be underserved by society. In addition, having a different view point also allows you to pick and choose which part of culture you want to embrace in, garner you more efficiency than otherwise

[Andrew Figueiredo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t feel I know enough about this to write an extensive review, but Shabi’s book calls attention to a group often erased from Israel’s identity—its Mizrahi population. I’ve been involved in Israel advocacy for a while and visited the country for an educational trip and was not aware of the extent to which assimilation became the dominant narrative. One of my favorite things about Israel is how many backgrounds if Judaism it brings together. For highlighting the Middle Eastern Jews, this is an important read. Shabi proves perhaps too critical of Zionism and less so regarding pogroms that happened in Iraq, etc even before the formation of Israel, but her book is pretty illuminating nonetheless.

EDIT: Took off a star because I did some more research and feel like Shabi whitewashed what Mizrahim went through in Arab countries.

[Rasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting view on Arab Jews and discrimination against them in Israel. Their identity struggle and hate for Arabs along with low social status and Ashkenazi Jews looking down on them specifically because they're Arabs. Not something I thought of before.

[Noah]

There's better scholarly work on "Arab-Jewish" i.e. Mizrahi identity in Israel today, but this is a good starting point if it's your first time hearing about transit camps, guttural ayins, and mimouna.

[Bushra Kalakh · Rating 5 out of 5]

How strikingly alike we are, but still how different!

[Nicole Sperry · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book covers such an interesting topic, but I really had to slog through this one. The writing style was not enjoyable and overall the book just felt far too dry

[Jaylani Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. Finally, somebody who actually wrote a book on the history of discrimination faced by the Sephardi and Mizrahi Jewish communities in Israel.

[Steve Cran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by an Iraqi Jewess who was born in Israel and lateer on was raised in London. She writes for the Guardian and Al Jazeera. She returns to Israels and offeres a critical look at the history of the Middle Eastern Jews in the Ashkenazi dominated country called Israel. The first chapter documnts the aliya of the Yemenite Jews. It tells how rough it was coming to Israel how some of the Israeli guard took advantage of their naivete and stole torah scolls and Jewellry from them. THe yemenite Jews had to live in teents as did most jews from Middle Easteern countries while thee Europeans were offered better housing. The Yemenite Jews served as laborers and helped one kibbut in teh Galillee till the land when the Kibbutz did not ned them anymore theey kicked them off the land by shtting off their water supplies, depriving them of ffood and some measures of brutality.

The Morrocan were part of theeir country living well and protectdd by king Hassan. With the advent of Zionism the Jews of Morrocco becaame scred. Despite King Hassans urgig the Jews fled. Most wnet to France. Some came to Israel. Those that wnet to Israel had to wait in France for three years bfore coming to Israel. Once in Israel theey were brought to Places like Ofakim which were teent cities. In Ofkim they have no chance of advancement and feel alientated from the Jewish state.

The author goes on to documet the History of the Iraq Jews in a town caled Or Yehida whcih is suituated on a former Palestinian villagee. Many were comfortable in Iraq and many wished they hd stayed there.

Israel is an Ashkenazi run state with a history of preujudice toward s Middle Eastern Jews. Many think the prejudice was long buried but it is not. The education system is failing Jewish children from the Middle East. tehy do not have the smae opportunities for advancesment as do th European Ashkenazis. They are still discriminatd agaainst in fields such as enterntainment, news and music wwhere they are pressured to Ashkenzify. They are dissuaded from using theeir accents, and inti recnetly their music woulld not geet airplay on the radio. Iarel copied and favored Europen sounds. This book is a document of an open wound that has not healed.

[dgw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads Giveaways. I'm still in the middle of reading it, but my review will be published as soon as possible.

Disclaimer: I won this book from First Reads

We Look Like the Enemy is a well-researched, in-depth book. In some ways, I feel like comparing it to fill-in-id because both are written in a similar heavily-cited, journalistic style.

Like Start-Up Nation, this book was a very informative read. However, I found it hard to keep reading. I expect to have to push myself through the first 50 or 100 pages of a book, no matter what the genre, but I had to push myself through the middle of this one. The first few chapters and the last chapter read the easiest; the rest of the book seemed to move slowly.

No, this book is not a narrative, though the subtitle—"the hidden story of Israel's Jews from Arab lands"—might suggest it. The organizational structure eluded me. The chapter titles did cover the main topic of each chapter, but a lot of times the text would refer to something from a few chapters before without any restatement. I found such references hard to follow.

Really, the whole book was a bit hard to follow. I expect that a richer background in Israeli politics, history, and culture would have helped me to better understand the book, but I selected this book from the giveaway list in large part because I expected to learn about Israel's culture. I was probably mistaken in my expectation that I would learn about Israel as a whole from a book focused on a subset of the country's population.

When I've had a chance to learn more about Israel as a nation, and as a culture, I will try reading this book again and hopefully comprehend more of what it has to say.

[Jeff Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemy notes

Racism exists in every country. This book documents that fact for Israel. Rachel Shani aims to document this racism that exists between the Ashkenazi (more western European jews) and the Mizrahi ( Jews of Arab descent, of which the author identifies herself). In the creation of the state of Israel the Mizrahi were the last to be settled and their treatment much resembled the concept of redlining in the united states. A practice in which members from an undesired population are forced to areas by a variety of means and then resources are drained from that. It's not a ghetto, but it acts that. In the united states those that were able to break out of these areas and end redlining could pass for white.

The author does an exellent job describing the situation. She creates scenarios that are controversial and effective, such as using the analogy of the creation of Israel in the Middle East is like sticking a European country there. It's also implied that if the country was not predominantly settled by Ashkensazi, would the treatment of Israel be different?

Some sections are a bit of a stretch. A bombing to scare Jews into leaving iraq for Israel by Jews came off thin.

Overall, the author does an excellent job dealing with discrimination in Israel, weaving personal stories with known historical incidents. The stories here are parellel to stories in the United States, the discrimination, the redlining, the protests and the riots. In the end an Arab Jew in Israel is the same as an Arab treated anywhere in a post 9/11. 

It's a tricky topic considering the constant threat to Israel from Arab countries, but she handles it well. A story that needs to be told.

[George Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not an easy book to read irrespective of the author's strong research, passion for the subject, and excellent story telling abilities. She also maintains a truly brutal degree of objectivity that is all the more amazing given all she, her family, and community lost because of 'a European solution to a European problem.' I tried to maintain objectivity as I read the book, but my anger and disgust reached almost uncontrollable levels and I was forced to stop reading for days at a time as I realized how many people have died and how many vibrant and creative cultures were destroyed all in the name of a solution that is as inherently wrong as the problems it seeks to correct. It is for this reason that this is a trenchant work that should be required reading for every political leader (irrespective of the kinds of groups they lead). Furthermore, organizations that influence the public's reading habits (such as Oprah, Reader's Digest, New York Times Review of Books etc.) should also strongly recommend it. I do not want to say anything more about its contents as I do not want to potential readers to think it is merely an anti-Zionist or pro-Zionist treatise. The author takes her and her readers past such knee-jerk reactions and seeks to address a much more fundamental question; How can these very different groups of people (who, in what is one of history's greatest ironies, are all Semites) whom history and geography have brought together find a way of living with each other? Because it is an inescapable fact that their destinies and, perhaps, that of the rest of the world, are completely entwined.

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah, another book won on Goodreads... I'm excited to read this history book. I love history. I think this history will be important to understand in light of the global problems we have.

This book deals in detail with the racism between Iraqi (and other Middle Eastern Jews) and European-returning to the homeland Jews. I was of course ignorant about these factions. I think that if you look deeply into any society you will see a split however. In my town, for example, there is a major rift. Does it matter though? Does it matter when bigger things are at stake? The relevance of the subject to the world at large is the question I have.

The author does a great job presenting her Iraqi-Jew point that they are oppressed. She uses examples from language, television and music for example.

For those interested in serious modern Jewish History this would be a good read. I could have gotten by with just an essay on the subject and been just fine though.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thought-provoking book on the issue of racism between European and Oriental Jews. I found this one especially intriguing due to my love of Arab/Israeli history. I never thought for a moment that there would be issues amongst the Jewish nation, yet there is. I recommend that the reader be familiar with Israeli history to understand some of the historical references discussed (Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, Balfour Declaration, etc.). A quick and enjoyable study that broadened my understanding of the Middle East.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Goodreads First Reads win. This book sounded intriguing to me and I was looking forward to reading it but the more I read the book more I found it difficult to get through it. I think for me the book was too lengthy, however, I think someone that is more interested in the subject or wants go know great details about racism within the Jewish culture would enjoy this book.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won on first reads. As the world lost a great lady when my wonderful friend, Ramona, just passed away, this review will serve for her. She will be dearly missed and cancer will be cursed for taking her from us so young.


This is a very good book for those interested in what our world is like and how others live. It is truly a sad issue that more people can not be accepting of others.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was disappointing. The main points - that Israel looked to Europe as a model both culturally and politically and the country's conflicted relationship with mizrahis affects and colors the relationship with Israeli Arabs and Palestinians are well taken, but probably could have been made in one thoughtful article.

The writing is very uneven which doesn't help.

[Tiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Painful to read as it didn't show Israel in the best light. She didn't balance her book with both sides...she only showed the side she wanted to show, and that was a negative. Would like to read more books on this topic...but just from a better writer/better balanced topic. It's basically what America did a few decades ago...we have since gotten better. I think!!??

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I had no idea of the intricacies of this subject. The Rachel's writing invited me into this world, and the reader feels as if they are a part it. It is a delicate area of the world in which to live. I learned so much from this book. I highly recommend it.

[Ramona]

Won this on first reads. Please check my friend Melissa Murphy's review for this book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, provocative book - makes me want to learn more about Israeli history. Definitely worth a read.