Arab Center for Mediation Director: Banning Arab List Aims to Silence Arab Voices
Dr. Ghazal Abu Raya, director of the Center for Mediation, stated that the request by the Otzma Yehudit party, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, to disqualify the Arab List from the elections is an attempt to exclude Arab voices. He believes this move infringes upon the right of Arab citizens to political participation, representation, and influence in decision-making.
Abu Raya emphasized that political disputes should be resolved at the ballot box, not through disqualification. He asserted that in a democracy, the voter holds the ultimate power, not petitions for exclusion. He added that true democracy is built on respecting political pluralism and everyone's right to participate.
He further argued that excluding Arab parties does not resolve disagreements but rather deepens divisions and erodes trust in the democratic process. Abu Raya called for respecting voters' will and their right to choose their representatives, advocating for dialogue and partnership over exclusion.
