Sakhnin Mayor Urges Arab Unity, Voting for Arab Parties in Crucial Elections

Mazen Ganaim, the Mayor of Sakhnin and head of the National Committee of Heads of Arab Local Authorities, has called for Arab political unity and urged widespread participation in upcoming elections, emphasizing their critical importance for the Arab community. In an interview with Faiz Ishtawi, Ganaim criticized the current government's policies, highlighting severe financial crises facing Arab municipalities. He asserted that Arab votes hold the power to influence the political landscape and prevent the current government from controlling the fate of the Arab community.

Ganaim appealed to approximately 200,000 young Arab voters and undecided individuals to cast their ballots to protect homes, holy sites, existence, and dignity, and to foster development in Arab towns and villages. He described the unprecedented suffering of local authorities under the current government, stating that the role of local leaders has been reduced to merely managing salaries and waste removal. He warned that if the current situation persists, around 75% of local authority heads might not seek re-election due to budget constraints and rising crime.

The mayor credited "Plan 550" with preventing the bankruptcy of Arab councils, which he claimed would have otherwise been unable to even pave streets. He decried the government's diversion of hundreds of millions of shekels from anti-violence and development budgets to other ministries. Ganaim also addressed planning and building issues, advocating for a five-year freeze on demolition orders and the legalization of homes built on private land to halt demolition policies.

He sharply criticized ministers who boast about demolishing homes in the Negev while denying unrecognized villages basic rights like water, electricity, and education. Ganaim also pointed to the bureaucratic delays hindering Arab citizens, with licensing and master plans taking over a decade. He condemned the violence and intimidation in Sakhnin, noting that a vital road project between Sakhnin and Arraba has stalled due to extortion and threats against contractors, with police inaction exacerbating the problem.

Furthermore, Ganaim expressed concern over "forced migration" as violence drives professionals and business owners to Jewish cities, reducing municipal tax revenues for Arab towns where half the population faces poverty. He concluded by calling for an immediate end to political infighting and social media disputes among Arab parties and leaders, urging a focus on pressing issues like reducing violence and crime. He encouraged the Arab community to support Arab slates to ensure strong representation and called on leaders to renew trust with voters to achieve a 70% turnout.