Israel cannot be a democracy for Jews only

Josh Drill, a peace activist and former Golani officer, argues that the temporary disqualification of Ra'am and the Joint List by the Central Elections Committee, which was unanimously overturned by the High Court, reveals deep-rooted racism. He calls for Jewish-Arab partnership as a cornerstone of the next government, a necessary step for Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation.

Josh Drill, a peace activist and former Golani officer, writes an opinion piece following the Central Elections Committee's decision to disqualify Ra'am and the Joint List from running in the 2026 elections, a decision unanimously overturned by the Supreme Court. Drill argues that the very attempt to disqualify all Arab parties, along with the fact that opposition leaders also rule out forming a government with them from the outset, indicates deep-rooted racism in Israeli society. He notes that the leaders of both parties condemned Hamas's war crimes on October 7, and Mansour Abbas is taking significant steps toward rapprochement between the communities. Drill calls for Jewish-Arab partnership as a cornerstone of the next government, a necessary step to stop the cycle of bloodshed and build trust between Israelis and Palestinians. The article reflects a liberal-leftist stance advocating full civil equality and political inclusion.