Workforce Language Services

Language and cultural barriers have a significant influence on relationships in numerous settings. The following article in the publication The Media Line draws a connection between the Israeli-Arab conflict and the language barrier.

The website of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, makes a point of greeting its visitors in three languages: Hebrew and Arabic, both of which are official languages in Israel, and English for the benefit of foreigners.

But for a large number of Israeli lawmakers, a third of this site is gibberish.

No, English is not the problem. It’s precisely the Arabic that’s Greek to them.

According to the Knesset website, at least a third of Israel’s cabinet ministers have no knowledge of Arabic at all.

While it may seem trivial, some argue that the lack of Arabic skills among Israeli politicians is one of the greatest impediments to peace.

If you think that is an exaggeration, ask Moshe Shahal, a former member of Knesset for the Labor Party and a former negotiator.

“In my opinion, 50 percent of the Israeli-Arab conflict is a problem of culture and language,” the Iraqi-born Shahal says.