Arab Labor

Arab Labor (Hebrew: עבודה ערבית, Avoda Aravit; Arabic: شغل عَرَب, Shughl Arab) is an Israeli sitcom television series, created by the Arab-Israeli writer and journalist Sayed Kashua.

Arab Labor
Also known as	Avoda Aravit
Genre	Comedy-drama
Written by	Sayed Kashua
Directed by	Ronnie Ninio [he] (season 1) Shai Kapon [he] (season 2-4)
Starring	Norman Issa, Clara Khoury, Salim Daw, Salwa Nakra [he], Fatma Yihye, Mariano Idelman, Mira Awad
Opening theme	DAM
Country of origin	Israel
Original languages	Arabic Hebrew
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	43 (+ Independence Day special)
Production
Executive producer	Daniel Paran
Producer	Yoni Paran
Production location	Israel
Editors	Udi Leon, Michal Cohen
Running time	48 minutes
Original release
Network	Channel 2 (Keshet)
Release	2007 (2007) – 2013 (2013)

Norman Issa portrays the main character Amjad

History

The series premiered on Keshet Channel 2 in Israel in 2007. The second season was broadcast in 2008 and the third season in 2012.^[1] The series, whose title in colloquial Hebrew carries the implication of "shoddy or second-rate work",^[2] focuses on the family and work situations of Amjad, an Arab-Israeli journalist. Much of the comedy is derived from the paradox of Amjad's love-hate relationship with his Arab identity and his simultaneous wish to integrate comfortably into Israeli society.^[3]

Poking fun at the cultural divide, Kashua's characters play on religious, cultural and political differences to depict the mixed society prevalent in Israel.^[2]

In the United States, the program aired nationally on Link TV. It also appeared on KCET in Los Angeles in 2014.

The show has won two consecutive Awards of the Israeli Television Academy for Best Comedy Series.

Cast

• Amjad Alian (Norman Issa) – An Arab-Israeli journalist working in Jerusalem^[4]
• Meir Cohen (Mariano Idelman) – photojournalist, Amjad's Jewish-Israeli coworker at the magazine
• Bushra Alian (Clara Khoury) – Amjad's wife
• Amal (Mira Awad) – An Arab-Israeli attorney to whom Meir is attracted
• Ismael, Abu Amjad (Salim Daw) – Amjad's father
• Umm Amjad (Salwa Nakra [he] -Seasons 1-3), (Alham Araff - Season 4)) – Amjad's mother
• Maya Alian (Fatma Yihye) – Amjad and Bushra's daughter
• Natan (Dov Navon [he]) and Timna (Rona Lipaz-Michael [he]) - Joined in Season 2, neighbors of Amjad and Bushra
• Yoske (Aryeh Moskona) and Yocheved (Sandra Sade) - Seasons 2 and 3 only, neighbors of Amjad and Bushra
• Ami Schuster (Menashe Noy [he]) - Joined in Season 3, Amjad's agent

Reception

The Chicago Tribune described it as "... a groundbreaking TV show that finds humor in sharing a homeland." The New York Times commented, "Kashua has managed to barge through cultural barriers and bring an Arab point of view ... into the mainstream of Israeli entertainment."^[2]

Reviews

• Mary McNamara (15 November 2008). "Finding humor and truth amid conflict". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
• Jonathan Curiel (13 November 2008). "Meet the Palestinian Seinfeld. Who knew?". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
• Ali Jaafar (1 February 2008). "Israeli sitcom about Arabs a hit". Variety. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
• Isabel Kershner (7 January 2008). "TV comedy depicts world of the Arab Israeli". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
• Anat Rosenberg (29 January 2008). "'Avoda Aravit' - breaking TV barriers". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 29 September 2012.

See also

• Television in Israel
• Arab-Israeli peace projects