Israel is a pluralistic society that contains numerous subgroups divided along ethnic lines. This research project will extend our understanding of how individuals conceptualize their ethnic identities and how ethnic boundaries are created and maintained. The researcher will investigate individuals of Moroccan, Romanian, and Palestinian backgrounds in the multiethnic community of Akko (Acre). Each group's reaction to national policies and expectations with regard to language use and education will be analyzed within the context of the community. This research will add significantly to our knowledge about the complexities of interethnic contact in relation to state power. On an utilitarian level it may well provide insights that will be useful to resolving the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
