Do any non-Israeli Arabs speak Hebrew?

Question

What about Israeli Arabs, do they all speak Hebrew? Why is Israel's language both Hebrew and Arabic? Was it because of Sephardim of Arabic origin or non-Israeli accomodation?

Answer 1

Most Israeli Arabs (or as they prefer to be known, Palestinians) speak excellent Hebrew.

Answer 2

1) I'm sure there are a few who do, but it's sort of like me (I'm Tanzanian) speaking Spanish. It's not really common learning for Arabs outside Israel, but some just like learning. Also, it comes very easily to most Arab-speakers, since both are Semitic languages.

2) Pretty much all of them do, yes

3) Because there are many Arab-speakers in Israel, including native Israelis

4) Mostly due to Sephardim of Arabic origin, but I'm sure there was also some accomodation involved

Answer 3

My hebrew vocabulary:

Shalom = Peace

Halev = heart

Thank you, thank you

*bow*

Answer 4

We know how to dig in Hebrew too. Ata meveen?

Answer 5

Everyone in Israel speaks Hebrew whether they are Arabs or Jews.

Arabic is an official language because there are many Arabic speakers and it helps Israelis communicate with its neighbors.

Mizrahi, Yemeni and a good number of Sephardim already spoke Hebrew, so they did not need to have Arabic as an official language for them to communicate.  If anything they were the ones teaching Hebrew

Answer 6

1.Regarding non-Israeli Arabs, some had a basic working knowledge, but demand to learn Hebrew grew about 10-15 years ago, especially in the media. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Archive/Articl...

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,...

http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2008/02...

2. Many Israeli Arabs are bilingual (Arabic &  Hebrew) and often trilingual (English).

http://www.erudit.org/revue/meta/1998/v4...

3.The answer to this question can be found in the 5th section of The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsou...

The Declaration guarantees freedom of language, education, and culture to all citizens, ensuring the right of Arabic speakers to speak and educate their children in Arabic as well as to use Arabic in all official business, including legal contracts, etc.

4. The answer to your last question is: both. When the hundreds of thousands of Arabic-speaking Jews first arrived, it was imperative that the State guarantee their rights to conduct legal business and receive certain public services in Arabic. (Within a short time of absorption into Israel, the vast majority of Arabic-speaking Jews  communicated well in Hebrew.)

Answer 7

Yeah Hebrew is like Arabic

Answer 8

most arab israeli people speak hebrew, living in israel they learn it at school plus its an advantage to them to know the language to get a good job.

with regards to the non israeli arabs, most dont know hebrew, unless they go and work in israel or study.

Answer 9

Shalom lupines,

Arabs learn and speak Hebrew as all Israelis do.  Arabic is a second language in accommodation for all the Arabs who are Israelis.

Many signs are written in Hebrew, Arabic and English - including medical facilities, banks, companies and government automated messages.

Sincerely,

Ms. Miche ; })