Tami Gilboa Arbel: What we have in common is greater than what divides us – and you can't argue with numbers
Tami Gilboa Arbel argues in an opinion piece that Israel's civic crises – air pollution, traffic accidents, crime, teacher shortages, and the high cost of living – harm all citizens, and that integrating Arab parties into the government is necessary due to the economy's dependence on Arab workers and the economic cost of exclusion.
Tami Gilboa Arbel, a lawyer with degrees in law, environmental studies, and economics, argues in an opinion piece that Israel's civic crises – air pollution causing about 5,500 deaths annually, 459 traffic fatalities in 2025, 252 Arab citizens murdered in 2025, shortages of teachers and welfare and health infrastructure, and the high cost of living – harm all citizens regardless of sector. She says organized crime in Arab society spills over into mixed cities and construction sites, and the Israeli economy depends on Arab workers: about 25% of doctors, 27% of nurses, 49% of pharmacists, and most public transit drivers are Arab. Excluding them costs the economy tens of billions of shekels a year. She calls for placing civic and economic portfolios in the hands of Arab leaders, while acknowledging the legitimate anxieties of the Jewish public.