From frustration to 'We are here'.. What has changed in the Arab street before the Knesset elections? | Exclusive
A shift in the Arab street before the Knesset elections: from frustration over the division of parties to renewed enthusiasm for participation, driven by fear of government policies and the need to protect political presence. Field surveys in Baqa al-Gharbiyye reveal a community angry at its leadership but not abandoning responsibility.
The article reviews the shift in mood among the Arab public in Israel ahead of the 26th Knesset elections, from frustration and despair due to the division of Arab parties and growing fears of Israeli government policies, to renewed enthusiasm for participation. The writer relies on 'field surveys' through café sessions and meetings in Arab towns, focusing on the town of Baqa al-Gharbiyye in the Triangle. It indicates that the voter turnout may exceed 70% and approach 80% according to some estimates, but he sees that what matters is what this shift says about Arab society: it is a society sometimes angry at its leadership, frustrated by division, tired of violence and crime, but has not abandoned its sense of responsibility. The article does not provide specific numbers or professional opinion polls, but relies on the writer's field impressions.