Arab Joint List Head Accuses Right-Wing of Seeking Jewish-Only Parliament

Professor Yousef Jabareen, head of the Arab Joint List, stated that recent disqualification decisions are a "targeted assassination" of Arab voters' right to participate in elections and choose their representatives. He accused the right-wing of attempting to establish a parliament exclusively for Jews by excluding Arab political representation and democratic Jewish forces.

Jabareen asserted in a speech to the election committee that the ruling party aims to prevent over two million Arab citizens from being represented by their chosen parties, seeking to disenfranchise 1.25 million Arab voters. He argued that the government wishes to decide who represents Arab voters, effectively making the parliament exclusive to the majority.

He refuted claims that Arab representatives are disconnected from their constituents, calling them "lies and fabrications." Jabareen pointed to the fact that the majority of Arab voters, along with democratic Jewish forces, support these parties. He emphasized that targeting these parties directly targets the will of their voters and their right to political representation, stating that such actions should not be cooperated with or legitimized.

Addressing attempts to question the Joint List's platform, Jabareen stressed that their program is public, clear, and consistent with their representatives' statements, denying any justification for the "incitement campaign" against them. He concluded by outlining their platform: establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel on the 1967 borders, dismantling settlements, and striving for full equality and social justice for all citizens.