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Opinion | Tibi, Out of the Box | Israel today

2022-04-16T21:30:25.708Z


Even for Ta'al, a step like joining the government will not be easy, but it may cross the Rubicon, which on the other hand opposes any cooperation with Zionist parties.


In the current state of affairs, a government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu cannot be re-established in the current Knesset.

The opposition led by him will, it seems, not be able to overthrow the Naftali Bennett government and replace it.

If another Knesset member joins the opposition, it will at most be able to force early elections.

The united list will not support the Bennett government or any other Zionist government, but among the three parties that make it up, there is one party that is able to join the current coalition - and that is Ta'al.

The Arab Movement for Renewal, founded by Dr. Ahmad Tibi 26 years ago, and whose second current representative in the Knesset is Adv. Osama Saadi, Tibi's brother-in-law, is a party that supports equal rights, a two-state solution and the integration of Israeli Arabs in state institutions.

It is identified with the Palestinian people, but sees its future in Israel, even if quite a few harsh statements can be traced from its representatives in the Knesset over the years in condemnation of government policies for generations.

Tibi has been an integral part of the political landscape in Israel for many years.

The media loves to interview him, not least because of his determination and sense of humor, and because he never manages to bore them.

When he talks about the Holocaust of the Jews, it is difficult not to be moved by his honest and unequivocal words.

As he passes the checkpoints between Israel and the West Bank, quite a few soldiers tell him that he gave birth to them while working in the gynecology department at Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem.

True, many Israelis did not accept the fact that for some time Tibi was Yasser Arafat's adviser.

But over the years he became a prominent Arab Knesset member in the Mishkan, and one of the most prominent in the entire Knesset, and he is considered a first-rate parliamentarian.

In 1999, when Netanyahu's defeat in the direct election for prime minister was imminent, the Likud used the slogan, "This is Bibi or Tibi," in order to make the hesitant public vote for Netanyahu.

This did not help Bibi, but established Tibi's special status in Israeli politics.

He is accepted by many Jews and Arabs, even if the support for his movement does not break the box office.

One of the important characteristics of his character is that his distinct Palestinian identity does not come at the expense of his distinct Israeliness, and he knows well what excites or chills his Jewish cousins.

The many alliances he made to other parties in the various election campaigns were never against the background of ideological proximity to those Arab parties, but because of his fear that his party would not pass the blocking percentage.

To a large extent it is a "one-man orchestra."

Ta'al is the only party on the joint list that can join the current government. It is not easy and simple for it either, both against the background of legislation that directly or indirectly harms Arab Israeli citizens, and because of its settlement policy in the territories. Netanyahu's concerns about improving the situation of Palestinian Arab citizens. They may cross the Rubicon, which on the other hand opposes any cooperation with Zionist parties. Tibi could be the first Arab minister on behalf of a non-Zionist party, and most likely will not be the last minister .

The Minister of History will smile, surely, when he remembers "Bibi or Tibi."

Tibi, 63, could see this as closing a personal circle, when his party's joining the coalition, not only as a "safety net" but as a partner in decision-makers, could keep Bibi away from returning to Balfour Street.

There is no doubt that the right will rummage through the archives and find quotes that are not easy to hear from Tibi and Saadi, but the Bent-Lapid coalition should not be alarmed.

The quotes from some members of the opposition, who want to become the next coalition, are really horrifying.

The inclusion of Tibi's small party is a necessary step after the addition of RAAM to the coalition and a proper response to the separatist to violent voices in Arab society.

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Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2022-04-16

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