A day before the opening of the polls, it seems that the Arab street does not really wake up.
In all the Arab localities, and in contrast to previous election campaigns, the advertising campaigns focus on a few billboards and some signs hanging in central places in each and every locality, not because of the digital activity but because of the great indifference of the Arab street, an indifference that indicates the Arab voter's disappointment with the representatives and the system.
Despite a certain upward trend in recent days, it is estimated that in the sector that could decide the elections, about half of the voters will stay at home, and it is doubtful that a turnout of about 49 percent will save all the Arab parties.
All this in spite of the assumption that the split of BLD from the joint list should increase the competition between the parties and encourage voting.
Polling stations in Tamra.
Arab representation decreased from 15 mandates to 10 mandates, photo: AFP
The campaigns are not convincing
Many reasons prevent the Arab citizens from going out to vote, including fatigue from the many election campaigns over the past few years, the lack of any change in Israeli politics in general and Arab politics in particular, and the continued control of the same Arab politicians for years and years.
The Arab party map has not changed in the last 30 years, and the main change is in the Zionist parties abandoning the Arab voice, to the point that there is almost no Arab candidate in a realistic place in the Zionist parties with the exception of Meretz.
Chairman of the National Assembly Mansour Abbas, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
It can be said that the competition between the parties caused a positive effect and an increase in estimates for the proportion of voters in the Arab sector.
However, the discourse in the campaigns and the messages of the parties to encourage voting did not bring the desired results, and it is estimated that the representation of the Arab parties, which previously stood at 15 seats and decreased to 10, may decrease even further.
Bald Chairman Sami Abu Shahada, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The campaign of the Central Election Committee in the Arabic language did not convince either.
"The slogan of the election committee was a slogan of intimidation," said a resident of Abu Sanan, who preferred not to be identified by name, and added: "We are being approached in a translated advertising campaign, and the slogan is 'If you don't vote - you will regret it.' To be afraid is someone who wants to push the Arab citizens aside."
Tel Aviv chairman Ahmed Tibi, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
If the trend of the increase in the rate of voters continues, and on election day more than 50 percent of those with the right to vote in the Arab sector will vote, there is a very high chance that the three lists - Ra'am, Hadash-Ta'al and Balad - will succeed in passing the blocking percentage.
But it seems that this task is not easy, at least according to the rumors on the Arab street.
"choose evil in the least"
At Hummus Abu Fawzi, in the "Violet Center" commercial center in Kfar Yasif, named after Violet Khoury, the first head of the local council in Israel, the residents of the village and the surrounding area gather every morning in addition to passers-by, Jews and Arabs, who come to eat a portion of hummus.
Almost everyone is talking about the epidemic of violence and crime in Arab society, the political situation in the country, the elections this week, and most of all - the disappointments from their representatives in the Knesset.
Hadash chairman Ayman Odeh, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Ataf Naim, a resident of Ma'alot Tarshikha, shares: "It is very unfortunate that the joint list disbanded, it almost made me not go to vote. But after the exercise done by the Hadash people, I only vote in Lad."
And what about the fear of forming a right-wing government that would include Ben Gabir and Smotrich?
"Even if the Right and Ben Gvir form a government here - they are not scary," he states.
In the commercial center, an interesting discussion develops between Jeris Elias, a teacher, educator, school principal and former inspector of the Ministry of Education, and attorney Toema Odeh. Between Bis and Bis both try to convince each other of their political position.
Elias.
"Must vote", photo: Michelle dot com
Teacher Elias explained his position: "We must go out and vote despite the non-ideal political situation we are in, and despite the political crisis we have. It is very difficult to remain indifferent in the current situation, and we must not be complacent. The Arab public has no alternatives, and it cannot vote for the Zionist parties, despite its desire The great to replace his Arab representatives in the Knesset. We have a bad guy in the minority, both to exercise our democratic right and to prevent the extremists from coming to power."
On the other hand, Adv. Odeh sounds like someone who is not enthusiastic about the elections, but understands the importance of voting and the participation of the Arab public. "We need to vote - maybe this will change the situation where every Arab who is looking for a quality of life moves to a mixed or Jewish settlement," he explains. On the verge of despair.
Any head of an authority who only manages to collect trash, clean the schools and make some asphalt, becomes successful because there is no longer any expectation of projects."
There is no change in the political map
Abdullah Khoury, a restaurateur and social activist in Kfar Yasif, claims that the main problem is that there is no change in the Arab political map and in the elected officials.
"How many people can be voted for? The political problem of Arab society is more difficult than the problem of Jewish society. We have an internal political problem, a problem of integration into Israeli politics and many, many other challenges."
Khuri.
"There is a problem of integration", photo: Michel dot.com
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