Lama Yassin
ON THE RECORD · 13 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“I wanted to be ‘the good Israeli’.”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin explained she sought to be seen as 'the good Israeli' while working in an entirely Jewish workplace.
“I did not speak Arabic in public. I even voted for [left-wing Zionist party] Meretz and favoured them over Arab parties,”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin described suppressing her Arab identity by avoiding Arabic in public and voting for Meretz over Arab parties.
“no one knew I was an Arab any more.”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin described learning Hebrew so well at Ben-Gurion University that her Arab identity was no longer apparent to others.
“You would see families coming to the polls together, grandparents and grandchildren,”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin described witnessing families coming to the polls together in her hometown of Arrabeh on election day.
“It was another demand of giving up on another part of my identity – one that defines me literally.”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin described being called 'Yasmine' by colleagues for a year and a half as a demand to give up part of her identity.
“But the moment we demand to have influence, to shape policy, and to take part in decision-making – suddenly, our very presence becomes a threat.”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin's Instagram video argued that Arab citizens' presence is treated as a threat the moment they demand political influence.
“shared society cannot be built over inequality.”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin came to realize that a shared society cannot be built on inequality.
“When it suits you, we are brothers and friends. When it suits you, we are a symbol of coexistence. When it suits you, you go around the world boasting about our integration into Israeli society.”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
In her viral Instagram video, Yassin criticized Israelis for praising coexistence while rejecting Arab political influence.
“It was the first time in a really long time that I felt there is hope – hope of a change.”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin expressed a renewed sense of hope following the overwhelming Arab turnout in the October 27 Israeli election.
“The whole conversation was about how dangerous these Arab voters are.”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin recalled that Israeli television coverage framed Arab voter turnout as dangerous.
“It’s not because they like us [that they let us remain]… It’s not because they want to; it’s because they have to.”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin argued that Palestinian citizens of Israel are allowed to remain out of necessity rather than acceptance.
“Eating hummus with us? ‘Brothers and friends’. Seeking political power? ‘Terror supporters’. Helping someone in distress? ‘Brothers and friends’. Voting in large numbers? ‘Terror at the ballot box’.”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin posted an Instagram video that went viral among Palestinians, contrasting how Israelis describe Arab citizens depending on the context.
“If they could give up on anything Arab, they would,”
Lama Yassin · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-07
Yassin said Israelis would give up on anything Arab if they could.