The Blogs: Arab voters have spoken. Will Israel listen? | Ghadir Hani

Arab-Israeli activist Ghadir Hani writes about her experience during the recent elections, describing fear and hope. She notes that Arab parties won 19 seats, which she calls a historic achievement, and calls on Jewish leadership to form a partnership government and prioritize fighting crime.

In a personal essay on The Times of Israel's blog, Arab-Israeli activist Ghadir Hani describes her experience during the recent Israeli elections, moving between towns and community meetings while feeling both fear and hope. She explains that after years of grassroots activism for shared society, the events of October 7 and the subsequent war led her to question her efforts. When her joint Arab-Jewish list, "A Place for Us All" (Makom LeCulanu), chose not to run, she focused on boosting Arab voter turnout. She reports hearing a plea from Arab society: "save us from a government that has abandoned our lives, save us from the rampant crime, and save us from utter despair." Hani celebrates the "historic achievement of 19 seats for Arab parties" as proof that the Arab public demands change. She calls on Jewish leadership to extend a hand for partnership, with the first step being an "uncompromising battle against violence and crime." She rejects claims by unnamed Knesset members that it is impossible to form a government supported by Arabs after October 7, arguing that the disaster struck everyone and that coexistence is at a crossroads. The essay is a first-person appeal for a unity government that includes Arab citizens.