Druze Local Leaders Thank Minister Vassilav for Support, Deny Political Endorsement
Several Druze local authority heads sent a letter of thanks to Minister of the Galilee and Negev, Yitzhak Vassilav, to express appreciation for his support of their communities, particularly during the recent war. Anwar Amer, head of the local council of Kfar Yasif, stated that Vassilav maintained direct contact with local authorities and visited northern towns more frequently than other ministers, providing crucial support to Druze and Arab councils during the conflict.
Amer emphasized that the letter contained no political or electoral endorsement for the minister, clarifying that the leaders were thanking Vassilav for his actions in office and not for his political affiliations. He noted that the leaders did not discuss Vassilav's party, Otzma Yehudit, and focused solely on his performance regarding local authorities.
Regarding sensitive issues like demolitions and building permits, Amer affirmed that Druze leaders reject demolitions and that the problem of unlicensed homes and zoning has persisted for decades. He stressed that addressing these issues requires political action from Knesset members, not just demands from local leaders or ministers, highlighting the essential role of lawmakers in raising these matters in parliament.
Amer also discussed political participation, encouraging Arab and Druze citizens to vote as a means of influencing national policy. He observed an increase in political and social engagement among Druze in the Golan Heights in recent years. He urged all citizens, Arab, Druze, and Jewish, to participate in elections, noting that low voter turnout diminishes political influence, citing a past low turnout in Umm al-Fahm as an example.
He reiterated that Druze local authority heads do not have a unified electoral stance and are free to vote according to their conscience, while continuing to work with various political factions to secure resources and services for their communities.
