The 15 Commonwealth mandates are not worth much

The joint list after the samples(Photo: AFP)

Even in this election campaign there are no victors between right and left and between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. The winner, probably the only one, is the Arab public.
After a particularly low turnout in the April elections, where half of the Arab voters did not leave home, and after improving in September (about 59%), this week we achieved an impressive achievement when the turnout of Arabs reached a record number of 90% since the 1990s, and came very close To the voting rate among Jews.

Surveys conducted in recent years in Arab society outline trends in the desire to engage, influence and take an active part in politics. The main beneficiary of this is the Joint List Party, which has probably won 15 seats. Undoubtedly, in those elections, she played the cards.

Against the backdrop of the Centennial Plan, and the controversial clause concerning the transfer of the triangle of its inhabitants to the Palestinian Authority, the joint managed to avert the anger of the Arab public. When there was no alternative to the Arab voice, and even Meretz pushed Issawi Fridge out of the top ten, it was clear to most Arab citizens who they were voting for. In sight, in the village of Qasem, the city of Freij, thousands of votes passed directly from Meretz to the joint.

But as mentioned, another factor that has taken the Arab public out of their homes is the understanding that they have become an integral part of the political game, with a chance to influence and legitimize the various Zionist parties. In fact, this was the first time that both parties running for power, right and left, were courting the Arab vote. When the prime minister came to an election conference in Tamra, and when my son Gantz stared at me in the center of Nazareth, the feeling of the Arab public seeped into my hands.

The absurdity is that the Likud and white blue campaigns have succeeded in influencing the Arab citizens to vote, but giving more votes for the joint, at their expense. They spent a lot of money on a targeted campaign for the Arabs but were wrong to think that this would bring them support.

It is not enough to speak Arabic. Must understand Arabic. To put out a video with Avi Dichter – who is behind the national law – calling on the Arab public to vote for Likud, or to declare Arabic that must go ahead and vote blue-and-white when meanwhile party leaders use slogans like “Jewish majority” – that is not to understand the Arab public.

“Incitement has strengthened us”: Joint supporters (Photo: Ido Erez)

Yosef Hadad(Photo: Elad Barmi)

The big celebration of the joint list is justified. It reached its long-term goal – 15 seats, and even raked in a complete Jewish left mandate, which is certainly an unprecedented thing. But at the same time, it should be cool: What is the difference between 10 or 13 or 15 seats on the joint list when it is unwilling to sit in any coalition, and therefore its ability to advance the Arab sector and address the burning issues in the sector from violence, through education to infrastructure, will remain limited?

In the next election, it is clear that the other parties will be able to appeal to the Arab public in a timely and effective manner. In other words, the joint list was given the last chance to prove that beyond speaking it can also provide deeds.

The huge leap within a year in the participation rate of Arab citizens in elections indicates a new mood. Their voice has become an integral and significant part, which may change the political map in the country. It is not yet known if the results of the elections will lead to a single government, but it can be stated unequivocally that the results of the elections may lead to another unity – a united society with partnership and influence of all sectors in it.

• Yosef Hadad
  He is an Israeli Arab and a social activist, founder of “Together – Arabs for each other”

Want to offer a column to Ynet’s opinion channel? Send us [email protected]