Elections 2015: Arab citizens and the non-Arab parties

While he merger of the Arab political parties is the biggest news related to Arab citizens and the upcoming general elections, among the non-Arab parties references to Arab citizens have ranged from divisive and controversial to inclusive, with some Arab candidates also running on Jewish and mainstream party lists:

Campaigns

Israel Beitenu, under Foreign Minister Liberman, launched their campaign with the slogan “Ariel for Israel, Um El Fahem for Palestine,” referring to Lieberman’s controversial plan for “population transfer” between Israel and a future Palestinian State. The slogan was met with numerous condemnations and a petition filed with the Central Elections Committee.

When Isaac (“Buji”) Herzog’s and Tzipi Livni’s political union announced their name as “The Zionist Camp” criticism from Arab activists said this is exclusionary to Arab voters. Netanyahu, meanwhile blamed the joint list for being Anti-Zionist due to 2013 court testimony given by the 17th member of their list, Zohair Bahaloul. Bahloul strongly denied the claim.

Arab candidates in non-Arab party lists

• MK Isawi Freij (Meretz), who served as MK in the previous Knesset, is 3rd on Meretz’ list. In a Facebook post, Freij said that his election to such a high position proves “Meretz is the party of all Israeli society and a home for Jewish-Arab partnership.”
• Zohair Bahaloul beat long time Labor activist and former minister Ghaleb Majadle for the 17th place slated for minorities on the Zionist Camp list. Bahaloul said he is joining politics “to promote dialogue, bring hearts and people together and demand equality.”
• MK Hamed Amer (Israel Beiteinu) is number 6 on Israel Beitenu’s list.
• Ayoub Kara (Likud), who served as member of the Knesset and Deputy Minister for Development of the Negev and Galilee, is on the Likud list in the 24th position.