Discrimination vs. permissible preferential treatment regarding University of Haifa dormitories: Or when cicero met Adalah in the cafeteria

This essay analyzes the allocation policies enacted by Haifa University over its dormitories. While seemingly a trivial case, it is actually a key example of an ongoing legal and social struggle between Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel. The policy provides preferential treatment for veterans of IDF and national service. Adalah challenged this policy in an Israeli court which accepted the petition. However, the legislation was later changed to allow such preferential treatment. This article examines two issues: national service for Arabs, and the preferential treatment practised by Haifa University I will argue that both opening national service for Arabs, and the policy of Haifa University are justified, however, the analysis will demonstrate the complexity of both subjects, and the article concludes with suggestions for both issues.