A Not Insignificant Minority

The opinion piece examines the dynamic in which two minority groups – Haredim and Arabs – dictate the election agenda. The author argues that the unwritten 'nature reserves' deal has dismantled the concept of citizenship, and compares the five-year plan for Arab society with the five-year plan proposed by Deri for the Haredim, which he defines as separatist.

Chen Artzi Sror's opinion piece examines the political dynamic in which two minority groups – Haredim and Arabs – dictate the election agenda. The author describes how Aryeh Deri pulled out a promise for a five-year plan for the Haredi sector, including channeling tens of billions and subordinating government ministries to sectoral needs, while exploiting the scare campaign of a government relying on Israeli Arabs. The author argues that this is manipulation, since the five-year plan for Arab society was approved in the Netanyahu government in 2015 and expanded in the Bennett-Lapid government, while the Haredi public has enjoyed budget injections for decades. The article presents the thesis that the unwritten 'nature reserves' deal – educational and community autonomy in exchange for political quiet – has dismantled the concept of equal citizenship. The author distinguishes between the five-year plan for Arabs, intended to aid integration, and Deri's plan, which he says is meant to fortify Haredi separatism. The article calls for formulating clear positions and appealing directly to young Arabs and Haredim, emphasizing that partnership with both populations is a condition for the survival of Israeli society.