Local Council Head Backs Arab Party, Urges Vote Turnout

Fouad Awad, head of the local council in Al-Mazra'a, has declared his clear and explicit support for the "Unified" Arab party, despite not belonging to any specific party himself. In an interview with Kul al-Arab, Awad stated his belief that Arab parties should be influential within the Knesset, not in the opposition. He urged citizens to vote for Arab parties to increase their representation, emphasizing the importance of participation.

Awad also discussed local governance in Al-Mazra'a, highlighting that decisions are made by consensus and staff are hired professionally, with no financial deficit and a 93% collection rate for municipal taxes. He noted the addition of 450 dunams to the town, but marketing has stalled because a condition was set to allocate 50% of this land to soldiers, which the council rejected.

Significant progress has been made in education, attracting students from outside the town. Awad mentioned the possibility of running for another term, which might be his last. He asserted that Arab representation in the Knesset is crucial for influencing decisions affecting all aspects of life, citing the "Plan 550" as a vital initiative that prevented the decline of Arab local councils. He credited Minister Yoav Kisch for fully transferring education and housing budgets according to this plan.

Awad reiterated his support for the Unified party, preferring a single list for Arab parties. He believes being influential players is the only effective political approach and respects those who choose to boycott elections but disagrees with their strategy. He called the overthrow of the previous "change government" a major mistake and urged people to vote to counter the right-wing's desire to suppress Arab turnout.