Abbas does not threaten Israel - he threatens the far-right government | Avi Gil

Avi Gil argues that Mansour Abbas does not pose a threat to Israel but rather to the far-right government, and suggests leveraging his integration to shape a reality where moderation pays more than conflict. He calls on Israeli leaders to integrate Israeli Arabs into governing systems and to add economic, social, and political measures that create a stable interest in moderation, while advancing toward resolving the conflict with the Palestinians.

In an opinion column in Maariv, Avi Gil argues that Mansour Abbas does not pose a threat to Israel, but rather to the far-right government. Gil suggests leveraging Abbas's integration into the political system to shape a reality where moderation pays more than conflict. He emphasizes that Abbas runs in elections, accepts parliamentary rules, negotiates with Zionist parties, and seeks to join the coalition, while working to achieve gains for the Arab public through political and non-violent means. Gil calls on Israeli leaders to contribute to shaping a reality where Israeli Arabs are integrated into governing systems, and to add economic, social, and political measures that create a stable interest in moderation and integration. He argues that progress toward resolving the conflict with the Palestinians will help thaw tensions between Arabs and Jews in Israel. Gil warns that those who close off any chance of integration doom their country to endless internal conflict, and that encouraging the Abbas phenomenon and rewarding moderate behavior will lead to a change in core ideological principles over time.