The head of the religious Zionist party declared that "the Arab parties should be outlawed and disqualified. We will strive to do that after the elections."
One could think that this statement is first of all ideological, and motivated by a racist view of the extreme right.
But behind this announcement is a practical political thought.
Bezalel Smotrich knows that the bloc map has nowhere to move: five election cycles without a decision and without a stable government have proven that there is no real undecided public that can be influenced one way or the other.
Even in terms of the voting rate, there is relative exhaustion in the Jewish public, in all parties.
The main question mark in these elections is not in the Jewish public - what will decide these elections is the turnout in Arab society.
In the simulation carried out by pollster Mano Geva, a simple conclusion emerged: if there is less than 35% of the vote in Arab society, Netanyahu will break the barrier of 61 mandates and will be able to establish a full-fledged Ben Gabir government.
Today there is already an expectation of less than 40% voting, and the trend continues.
On the other hand, the more Arab society becomes a partner in the political game, the more Smotrich's chances of returning to the minister's office decrease.
Ask: What is the connection between the voting rate and the disqualification of the Arab parties, especially after the elections?
Oh, this is where it gets interesting.
The statements bring an immediate dividend: they erode the legitimacy of Ram and the Joint List, and the erosion will not only make it difficult the day after forming a coalition with them, but also increase the desperation in Arab society. If the statements had remained in Smotrich's category, the message would not have been dramatic. The Arab public anyway I don't like those who don't want an Arab woman to give birth next to his wife.
The problem begins when his statement is joined by the silence of the other Jewish politicians, and even statements in a similar vein.
Only about a month ago MK Efrat Raiten, from Labor, stated that she would not sit in a coalition with the Joint List - a party that receives more than half of the votes of the Arab public. The Labor Party, the historic Zionist left party with Marev Michaeli at its head, did not adopt the statement, but did not condemn it either. Politicians from Blue and White declared that they would not rely on Ra'am as the 61st finger.
The Arab public sits and sees that almost all Jewish politicians, from the left to the right, disqualify their elected officials.
And what does he understand from this?
that his voice is neither legitimate nor influential.
Precisely in the face of these racist attacks, everyone who cares about democracy should stand up and say: the Arab public is 20% of the Israeli public, and he and his elected representatives are legitimate.
Any Israeli politician who preaches these statements, or even just remains silent in the face of them, will not only strengthen Smotrich's perception but will help form his next government.
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