INTO THE FRAY: The Arab vote in Israel—legality, morality and security
As the October elections in Israel draw closer, public debate is focusing increasingly on the role of the Arab parties and the Arab electorate in the Jewish nation-state.This distinction—between party and voter—is important for our discussion and essential to illuminating a frequently misunderstood point in the public debate. This is particularly true in light of rumors that a former senior police officer is planning to join the ranks of the Islamic Ra’am (United Arab List) Party, an affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood—a move that would presumably obscure the true Islamist nature of the party among certain segments of the electorate.‘Arabs flocking to polls in droves’The question of Arab participation in parliamentary elections in the Jewish state was a major media issue during the 2015 election, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned: “Arab voters are flocking to the polling stations in droves.”This declaration was seized upon by anti-Netanyahu elements as…
The article discusses the legality, morality, and security implications of the Arab vote in Israel, particularly concerning Arab parties' participation in Knesset elections. It highlights a perceived pattern where the Israeli High Court frequently overturns decisions by the Central Elections Committee to disqualify Arab parties, even when those parties' platforms appear to violate Section 7A of Israel’s Basic Law: The Knesset. This section prohibits parties that negate Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state, incite racism, or support armed struggle against Israel.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu's 2015 comment, "Arab voters are flocking to the polling stations in droves," was a call to action for right-wing voters, not a racist slur against Arab voters.
- The High Court has consistently allowed Arab parties like Balad, Ra’am, and Hadash-Ta’al to run, despite concerns that their goals or statements implicitly or explicitly violate Section 7A.
- The article argues that disqualifying non-compliant Arab lists does not disenfranchise individual Arab voters, who can still vote for legally compliant parties.
- The author contends that the combined strength of Arab parties could significantly influence future governments and critical security decisions, posing an "ominous prospect" for the Zionist enterprise if anti-Zionist lists are involved.
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