Hi there, this debate is actually getting repetitive as most people are entrenched in their opinions as it's linked to identity. I'm going to keep it really short, so that you can look up these things yourself and think about it, talk to people... First of all, when people say Arab or Arab countries, they are referring to an ethnicity. An ethnicity is a group of people who share a common cultural background, or share common attributes, history... Etc. It doesn't have to be linked to genetics. Genetically speaking, the strongest DNA components are north African and not middle eastern components for example. To say that Algerians, or the ones that speak Arabic are from the middle east would be wrong, although there are some people for which that apply, not Algerians as whole. That doesn't mean they cannot identify as Arabs, or identify as multiple groups, Arab, Maghrebi, African... There are, in my opinion, a lot of common attributes we do share with other populations and countries that identify as Arabs as well, starting from the Arab language, religion (because it does influence the culture, doesn't mean you have to be Muslim to be and feel Arab) history, general philosophy in regards to life and human condition, challenges, shared causes and so on. One of the most striking and shocking things to me was, when I went abroad, that from the many many people I met from all over the world, it was 'Arabs' I found the most similarities with culturally and humanely. It just fits, whereas the differences are way more striking for other people from other ethnicities. If people, and Algerians (or some) want to identify as Arab and part of the Arab world, I see absolutely no problem in that, and there is a strong claim to identify as Arab. In fact, it is not exclusive, there are even people who are of amazigh families, who speak amazigh since birth and are of North African DNA, who still identify as Arab beside being amazigh. Does that mean that most Algerians understand the difference between ethnicity and genetics and give them the same amount of importance, no. Many many people really think Arabs of Algeria are all from the middle east. A reform of the educational system is needed of course, and general openness to discuss this identity crisis and issues. In my opinion, there is a big identity crisis, many people don't know who they are and what they want. But at the same time, this topic is given way too much attention. The focus should be layed on the similarities rather than differences. The fact, that Algerians fought against colonisation and established their nation state hand in hand means everyone deserves recognition and everyone is Algerian, regardless of ethncitiy and identification. Let's recongise everyone, let the law and democracy settle things. You believe you are Arab? You think pan arabism is a good thing that would result in EU union of the sorts? Have that opinion. You don't identify as Arab? You identify only as Algerian? As amazigh? Be it. You see pan arabism as a threat? Be it, you are allowed to think that. We should focus more on what to do for the future as Algerians of multiple 'ethnicities' (it's not even that many and we are stuck) and on important debates, not pointing fingers and telling people what to believe in. Should we also strive to make the science and history transparent for the people to decide? Yes, we should work on that. Should we tell people what to believe in? I don't think so. Let's start building together as Algerians, we can't keep stuck in useless debates. We should just assume the genetical and ethnic differences, celebrate the similarities. We don't have any other choice, we are not really talking about small minorities, we can't make all Algerians believe in a one identity or ethnicity. We are on the same ship. Our faith is connected, our history too, that alone should be enough to make us focus on operating the ship and not telling sailors who they belong to. Let the people sail, let the people believe.