Published: 30 March 2020
Last updated: 4 March 2024
AT THE END OF THE DAY, the majority of Israeli parliament members repeat the same mantra: “We won’t sit with the Arabs”. By saying that, they mean excluding the 15 Arab MKs out of 120 MKs in the coalition, or even being supported by them to form a government.
In Israel, 20% of the population are Arabs (88% voted for the Joint list). As I write these lines, many of them save lives and work around the clock to fight the coronavirus. According to Health Ministry data 17% of Israeli doctors, 24% of nurses and 47% of all pharmacists are Arabs. They save lives without consideration of race, religion or gender. The public itself does “sit” and work together.
And yet, the majority of Israeli parliament members insists: “We won’t sit with the Arabs.”
Not agreeing to work with and ‘sit’ with another race has only one name - racism.
Currently, following the third elections in a year, the centre-left camp had more than half the seats, enough to theoretically form a governing coalition. But once again it failed to do so.
Benny Gantz gave up on the option to form and lead a government with the majority of seats on his side. The reason he tore his party apart and joined Benjamin Netanyahu is that many MKs from his bloc have adopted the “Jewish elections narrative”, which argues that a majority which includes Arab MKs is not a majority.
Most of the MKs from the centre-left would rather join forces with a Jewish Prime minister and MKs facing trial, than join forces with Arabs who obey the law.
It’s not enough to declare you believe in democracy and want a non-corrupted state. MKs who want democracy, should also stop being racist and should say with pride that “we will sit and work side by side with Arabs in the parliament”.
Shortly after the election the Gesher party MK Orly Levy, who had run on a joint Labor ticket, announced she would not support a minority government dependent on the Joint List, saying she “won’t agree to be supported by Arabs”.
Then Yair Lapid, the likely opposition leader after Gantz’s defection, tweeted last week that Blue and White would form a minority coalition with support from Arabs “but it’s only one vote, and will end with that,” he said.
In other words, use them and throw them.
A week prior to Gantz and Gabi Ashkenazi crossing the line from Blue and White to Netanyahu, Ashkenazi’s wife told right-wing demonstrators: “Go home, Ashkenazi will never ever agree to sit with or be supported by Arabs”.
As long as Jewish centre-left MKs do not show readiness for a real Arab-Jewish cooperation, they should not expect their other agendas to be fulfilled.
Perhaps they should look to example set by President Reuven Rivlin, who recently read a classic childrens story to the kids of Israel via social media. The story was written by Leah Goldberg, and is called Dira Lehascir - A flat for rent. A few animals are inspecting the fifth flat in a building of five flats. After each inspection, the neighbours ask the inspector: “will you sit with us?”
Almost all inspectors say they like the flat but not a certain neighbour, and hence refuse to “sit” in the building. The white pig refuses to sit with the black cat, etc. Unlike the others, the dove admits the flat is not ideal but would like it since she is willing to sit with the neighbours and co-exist with them.
In today’s Israel, Arabs wearing a doctor’s uniform are considered angels. The rest are blamed for being terrorist supporters, especially by the prime minister, and are not seen as equal to Jews.
In three elections within a year, and perhaps in response to Benjamin Netanyahu’s racist campaigns, the Arab population increased its political power by 50%. It's an unbelievable achievement but it’s still not enough.
Will the racism in Israeli society recede if Israeli Arabs stand up in nonviolent political action? I have a dream that Israeli Jews will stand up with them, and leaders will finally be proud to “sit” and work together with Arabs.
Photo: Israeli president Reuven Rivlin sits down to discuss the election result with members of the Joint List
