Arab Labor (, Avoda Aravit; , Shughl Arab) is an Israeli sitcom television series, created by the Arab-Israeli writer and journalist Sayed Kashua.
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. The series, whose title in colloquial Hebrew carries the implication of "shoddy or second-rate work", 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.Playing Sayed Kashua: Actor Norman Issa feels like the third brother of Arabs and Jews
Poking fun at the cultural divide, Kashua's characters play on religious, cultural and political differences to depict the mixed society prevalent in Israel.
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 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 ( -Seasons 1–3), (Alham Araff - Season 4)) – Amjad's mother Maya Alian (Fatma Yihye) – Amjad and Bushra's daughter Natan (Dov Navon) and Timna () - 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 () - 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."
Reviews
See also Television in Israel Arab-Israeli peace projects
References
External links LinkTV website Full episodes at makoTV Israeli-Arab sitcom Arab Labor becomes big hit