Rabbi Yehuda Shloush Rules It Permissible to Vote for Lists with Arab Candidates

Rabbi Yehuda Shloush, the chief rabbi of East Netanya and son of the late Rabbi David Shloush, has ruled that it is permissible to vote for a political list that includes an Arab candidate. He addressed the claim that such voting is forbidden, citing the principle that non-Jews should not be appointed to public office.

Rabbi Shloush based his ruling on a previous opinion by Rabbi Uziell regarding women's right to vote and be elected to public office. He distinguished between appointments made from above and public elections where candidates are chosen by voters. Rabbi Shloush argued that while appointing a non-Jew to a position might be prohibited, a candidate who gains a position through public election, bringing votes to the list, is different.

He referenced Rabbi Aviner's alleged statement that voting for Ofir Gonen (Winter) is forbidden because his second-ranked candidate is Arab. Rabbi Shloush explained that Rabbi Uziell, in his response concerning women's suffrage, differentiated between a superior appointing someone and the public electing a representative. This principle, Rabbi Shloush contends, applies to Arab candidates who bring votes to a list, citing examples of Arab candidates bringing two mandates or Druze candidates garnering Druze votes.

Rabbi Shloush also drew parallels to the integration of Arab men and women in various professional fields, such as hospitals, where Arab nurses and paramedics work alongside Jewish staff. He concluded that the argument against voting for lists with Arab candidates is outdated and incorrect, stating, "In accordance with Rabbi Uziell's words, in my understanding, it is permissible."