By Nate Feldman
Arab Labor was an Israeli TV show written by author Sayed Kashua, focusing on the cultural divide between Arabs and Jews. It aired between 2007-2013. The main character in the show is Amjad, an Arab journalist.
In the first episode, titled "The Car," Amjad is driving with his wife and daughter when he is pulled over by an Israeli security official. Amjad is confused because he doesn't understand how the guard knows he is Arab. He is speaking Hebrew and wearing clothes and deodorant that makes him not appear to be Arab. A colleague tells him it is the car he is driving. He drives a Subaru, a car that allegedly only Arabs drive. Meanwhile, he is criticized by his father for wearing a seatbelt in the village, something most people supposedly don't do.
When he eventually is able to get a Rover, a car his colleague said is considered a "Jewish" card, now he is saluted at checkpoints instead of pulled over.
Amjad also is asked by his supervisor to appear on a show to explain why Arabs have more car accidents than other groups in the country. He tells her it is because of the poor infrastructure, and she wants him to explain that on a talk show. However, the rebuttal is that the driving culture in the Arab sector is poor.
The show gives a unique perspective on the inner workings of Israeli culture, especially from an Arab standpoint, that is not often seen in many shows or programs.
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