Are Israel-Arabs voting to shake off oppression and apartheid? No: cost of living and crime are their main concerns, they tell JC

Amal, a 36-year-old Arab Muslim resident of Yaffo, said this will be the first time she votes and that she was motivated by the rising cost of living.

“It is much, much more expensive than it used to be,” she said. “Fruit has [more than tripled in price] in 10 years.

“I can’t even go [into central Tel Aviv] now because it is even more expensive. Sometimes, it feels like we are being left behind.”

Banner in Ajami, an Arab-majority neighbourhood in Yaffo, southern Tel Aviv, promoting the Joint List (Credit: Daniel Ben-David)[Missing Credit]

That is why, she said, she and her friends were voting for the Joint List – three Arab political parties that have united to increase Arabs’ representation in the Knesset.

“The Arab communities need to be together. If we are not together, the Knesset or Jewish Israeli majority won’t care about us. They won’t help.”

With the potential to win ten to 15 Knesset seats, the Arab parties could become “kingmakers” by making it much harder for Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government and potentially help an alternative coalition take office, even by supporting it from outside rather than joining it.

Banners and flyers posted on walls throughout the neighbourhood promoted the Joint List and the group’s three leaders, Yousef Jabareen (Hadash), Ahmad Tibi (Ta’al), and Sami Abu Shehadeh (Balad).

There were also banners for the Ra’am Party, an Islamist, socially conservative but pragmatic group led by Mansour Abbas, which in 2021 joined Bennett-Lapid's coalition – the first independent Arab party to join an Israeli governing coalition.

A wall in Yaffo, southern Tel Aviv[Missing Credit]

The overarching sentiments among those who agreed to speak in Yaffo was frustration about a lack of tangible change over the years despite participation in the electoral system, and self-professed ignorance or ambivalence about politics in general.

Muslim voters’ priorities centred on tackling crime in their communities, which they felt the current government had largely ignored; reducing the cost of living; and strengthening their political influence through greater unity among Arab voters.

A Christian local business owner said he was not voting this time but that he would vote for any candidate who promised to keep the peace whilst maintaining the status quo.

“I love living here. I like the standard of living. It is an easy life here for my family,” he said. “My fruit shop caters to all [residents of Yaffo irrespective of ethnicity or religion. We are not bothered by anyone.”

He added: “I don’t want change. My family does not want change. In 10 years I want it to be the same.”

A star and crescent in Ajami, an Arab-majority neighbourhood in Yaffo, southern Tel Aviv[Missing Credit]

Another Muslim resident who moved to Yaffo more than a decade ago also expressed a wish to be left alone by the politicians, while also calling for increased resources to tackle growing crime in Muslim-majority communities.

“I am Muslim, so I vote for Muslim party. I am very happy to have a vote at all. My parents in Jordan did not,” he said. “I will maybe vote for Joint List.”

He said that despite Ra’am being in the governing coalition for a year and a half from 2021, which helped push through a NIS 30 billion economic development plan for Arab society, little real change came of it.

Moraf, a 66-year-old Arab Christian resident of Yaffo since birth, said: “We need security. I am voting Likud. I like Bibi. I don’t mind Ben-Gvir. I don’t care what people say. They are strong. You need strong people.

“My nephew serves in the IDF. I want an end to the war. I want him to come home.”

A large digital billboard in Tel Aviv featuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot (Credit: Daniel Ben-David)[Missing Credit]

In Jerusalem’s Old City, Mustafa, an Arab Muslim Israeli citizen who works as a hotel valet, said he prioritises security above all else when voting.

“I feel it’s not a matter of if you like Bibi Netanyahu or not, it doesn’t matter who you choose, we just want peace. Enough war. Enough violence.”

Originally from the Arab city Kafr Qasim, east of Petah Tikva, Mustafa said his family had experienced arbitrary violence at the hands of Muslim organised gangs.

“They come to us, they extort us,” he said. “The crime is very, very bad. People are killed, and nobody does nothing. I wanted to vote for Eisenkot’s coalition, but maybe now I will vote for Joint List if Eisenkot doesn’t want to work with Arab parties. We need security.”

Jerusalem as viewed from Mount Scopus (Credit: Daniel Ben-David)[Missing Credit]

On Mount Scopus, a 24-year-old Hebrew University student, Rawya, a Muslim Israeli citizen, said she is proud to identify as both a Muslim and an Israeli when she votes.

This time she would be voting in order to secure more prospects for young people and make Jerusalem more affordable.

“In my neighbourhood, we need more funding for schools, funding for infrastructure like roads and public transport,” she said. “I think there is a gap in access between people of different socioeconomic backgrounds in Israel, and I think Eisenkot is best placed to raise everyone up together at the same time.”

There are more than a 1.1 million Arab citizens of Israel eligible to vote, representing just under one-fifth, 18 per cent, of Israel’s total number of eligible voters living within the country, 6.5 million.