The Arab population of Israel is composed of the descendants of the native Arab population who remained within Israel's borders when the state of Israel was established in 1948. Today, the Arab citizens of Israel represent nearly 1/5 of Israel's total population. While Israel has become a developed country with an advanced industrial economy and a high standard of living, the Arab population has not been included in the country's overall development. Due to the bias of the government to focus exclusively on the welfare of the Jewish citizens, the Arab population has been widely neglected.

The Arab community suffers from under-development and discrimination. Poverty is common in the Arab sector; over half of Arab children in Israel live under the poverty line. Adult males face unemployment rates of nearly 15%, and less than 20% of adult females are employed outside their homes. Of the 29 towns in Israel with the worst rates of unemployment, 32 are Arab villages. Lack of sufficient housing and land development has led to cramped and overcrowded conditions. Many Arab localities lack even basic infrastructures, such as electricity, sewer systems, public transportation, and roads. While the Israeli government actively develops Jewish localities, establishing industrial areas and supporting agriculture, the Arab sector has been largely left to fend for itself.

Due to the lack of support of the Israeli government, the Arab sector has developed a growing civil society, which strives to meet the needs of the community in the areas of health, education, agriculture, housing and planning, the environment, and the prevention of violence against women. In the past decade, many new grassroots organizations have emerged from the Arab community, addressing both local and national issues. However, these organizations' activities are largely independent of each other, lacking a shared plan or collective strategy for the Arab citizens of Israel. With the proliferation of new organizations, and the resulting variety of approaches, many community members have voiced the need for methods of cooperative coordination, and a strategy for the future.

Answering the political and development needs of the Arab society in Israel is a responsibility that should be shared - by the Arab community, by the Israeli authorities, and by international partners and supporters. Each of these groups has a role to play in alleviating the poverty of the Arab population, and empowering the community to be able to develop a strong civil society. Through cooperation with European partners, both the Arab society and the European partners benefit.