ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This book is the culmination of first-hand research I have carried out during the last eight years into the dynamics of Palestinian-Arab citizenship in Israel. Born out of a desire to illuminate and explore the ambiguous situation of this population, this book seeks to analyze the nature of Palestinian-Arab existence within Israel as a Jewish state, and deconstruct the particular dynamics of exclusion embedded in its hierarchical citizenship framework. After finally setting out to conduct independent research on this subject, the scale of those who have supported, encouraged and helped me throughout the years has grown past the point where I am able to remember all who have contributed to this project. Simply put, this publication would not have been possible without the generosity and efforts of a large number of people and civil society institutions. To begin, my political engagements on which this book is based would not have been possible without the support and inspiration of my mother, Parvin, who instilled in me a drive to unapologetically challenge oppression and racism. Nor without Bibimah, my Nane, whose love and care has never ceased. Their strength, as well as the understanding and my father and brother, Masoud and Behzad, form a central force behind this book. This drive was also coupled with encouragement from my best friend and loving partner, Fabian, whose generosity in thought continues to deepen my political and intellectual positions. Close friends and respected allies who have provided particular assistance and helped ensure that this book actually got out include Hazem Jamjoum, Bill Swanson and Donya Ziaee – and my academic supervisors, Gerald Kernerman and Robert Latham – all of whose attention and insight helped shape this project. Others who have also provided good company and discussion on this topic include Uri Davis, John Elmer, Dan Freeman-Maloy, Niloofar Golkar, Amira Hass, Amir Hassanpour, Clare O’Connor, Justin Podur, Shekoufe Sakhi and Mai Taha. I would also like to express gratitude to my editor, David Fasenfest at Brill Academic Publishers, for his assistance and efforts throughout the publication process. My analysis of the stateless citizenship of Palestinian-Arabs was shaped and nurtured by my various posts and interactions with Haifa-based Palestinian civil society organizations, including Mada al-Carmel: The Arab Center for Applied Social Research, Ittijah: The Union of Arab