This legal definition in effect dooms any non-Jew to second-class citizenship in all respects - civic, political, social and economic. Non-Jews are not entitled to enjoy the aid and services of the Jewish Agency, which essentially is a state body. Their educational system is starved by the state in comparison with the Jewish one. The governments are always trying to base themselves on "a Jewish majority" in the Knesset, in order to avoid a dependence on non-Jewish citizens, a development which would introduce them into the "inner", "legitimate" circle of Israeli politics, thus shattering the invisible limits of the corporation state. Jewish society, even the secular one, does not easily admit non-Jews, particularly those of Arab origin. Only a few of them penetrate academia, the media, diplomacy and culture. Above all: only Jews (and a few others, namely Druzes and Bedouins) are permitted to serve in the army (although non-Jews are never allowed to rise above the medium levels of command). But the army and the defense field in general are among the main avenues for social, political and economic advancement in Israel. Not only does the officer corps enjoy a preferred position in society, but it is also relatively easy to pass from the senior levels of command to senior positions in the economy or in politics. Furthermore, the whole field of defense-related industries, which in practice covers all the hi-tec and most remunerative enterprises in the country, is virtually closed to non-Jews. An Arab graduate in electronics, computer-science, metallurgy or mechanics has hardly a chance of finding employment in his chosen field, and the same applies to the field of big finance and banking.
