Encouragement to Israeli Arabs to vote in Israeli elections to oust "racist" PM Netanyahu – Op-ed in PA daily
Excerpt of an op-ed by Israeli Arab writer Muhammad Ali Taha
Headline: “We can make a change”
“[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] is very worried and frightened, and he has the right to be worried and frightened when he sees the sun of the native [Palestinian] from the porch of his residence on Balfour Street, or from the window of his palace in Caesarea. In such a situation, the magician must pull rabbit after rabbit out of his hat. He already did this a number of years ago, when he succeeded in sowing fear in the hearts of the members of the [Jewish] tribe by calling for help and screaming that ‘The Arabs are flocking to the ballot boxes in buses.’ The goal justifies the means and all is permitted in order to protect [his] seat; incitement is permitted, racism is beneficial, and to hell with democracy, equality, freedom, and law…
The strong, smart, magician from Balfour Street is attempting to kill two birds with one stone today: to increase the number of Jewish voters for his party, and to reduce the number of Arab voters in the elections. For a number of days he has been shouting: ‘The Arabs are committing voter fraud, the left wants to steal the government with the Arab votes; we will place cameras at all of the ballot boxes to prevent fraud.’ …
The most important question today is whether the Arabs will fear the cameras and not flock to the ballot boxes, as the magician wants? …
Our people… will respond to the threat and the fear-mongering by flocking to the ballot boxes in droves. Netanyahu is inciting and intimidating, but we will not fear. The [Jewish] Nation-State Law (see note below –Ed.) is behind us and the deal of the century (i.e., refers to US President Donald Trump’s as yet unpublished Middle East peace plan) is before us. We are 1.5 million Arab votes, so how could the magician not fear us?
We can bring about his replacement, and we will not renounce our right to vote.”
Jewish Nation-State Law – law passed by the Israeli Parliament on July 19, 2018, which codifies in Israel's Basic Law that Israel is the home of the Jewish nation with Jerusalem its capital, and the Hebrew calendar its official calendar. It establishes Hebrew as the sole official language and grants Arabic a special status, and it recognizes Jewish and Israeli holidays, memorial days, and the Jewish Sabbath as national holidays and days of rest - while guaranteeing the right of all Israeli citizens and residents to celebrate their holidays and days of rest. The law, which passed with 62 in favor, 55 against, and 2 abstentions, has sparked controversy within Israeli society.