Justice for All?

How does the Israeli criminal justice system treat its most significant minority group―the Arabs? This book explores the functioning of Israel's criminal justice system in the context of the volatile relationship between Jews and Arabs in Israel and the conflict between Jews and the Palestinians of the occupied territories. Examining decisions at each juncture of the system, the authors study the question of whether the system treats Arabs fairly and equally or discriminates against them.

Aware of the potentially volatile nature of the subject, the authors have taken care to make the book methodologically sound and their findings level-headed. Their study shows that despite legislative efforts to protect minority rights and treat all citizens as equals, these goals are not always achieved. Arabs are treated differently in the criminal justice system.

ARYE RATTNER is Professor of Sociology at the University of Haifa. He has written numerous articles on wrongful conviction and eyewitness identification and is coauthor of the book Convicted But Innocent: Wrongful Conviction and Public Policy (1996).

GIDEON FISHMAN is Professor of Sociology at the University of Haifa. He is co-founder and co-director of the Minerva Center for Youth Policy at the University. He is the author of numerous articles on crime trends, stereotypes, violent behavior, and suicidal behavior.