The Experiment is Failing

The bold experiment to integrate Israeli Arabs in Israeli politics is tragically failing. The Bennett-Lapid government made a courageous gamble in forming a government that relies for its majority on Arab members of Knesset. This was extremely laudable in ending decades of Arab marginalization in Israeli politics. Investing in the Arab sector is essential for Israel’s economic and social future and the Bennett-Lapid government has done exactly that. Now however, the Ra’am and Meretz parties are failing to maintain voter discipline among some of its Arab Members of Knesset, leading to a situation where the current experiment unfortunately is unlikely to be repeated in the foreseeable future. This is profoundly tragic for the Arab citizens of Israel whose sector needs vast investment and strategic affirmative action and above all gender equality to bring their women into the labor market. It is profoundly regrettable that representatives of the Arab public are discrediting Arab participation in Israeli parliamentary democracy by effectively painting Arabs as unreliable coalition partners.