F Sussuta Council Head Edgard Dakour Will Not Seek Re-election, Cites War Impact and Government Budget Cuts

Edgar Dakour, head of the F Sussuta Local Council and secretary of the National Committee of Heads of Arab Local Authorities, announced he will not run for re-election after three consecutive terms. In an interview, Dakour discussed the challenges faced by border communities during the recent war, noting that F Sussuta was not under an official evacuation order, though about a third of residents expressed willingness to leave. He highlighted that 50-60% of homes in the town lack safe rooms or shelters, criticizing government conditions for building shelters in communities near the border.

Dakour also revealed that the Ministry of Interior appointed an alternative local committee after the council's budget was not approved, though the ministry later cleared him of responsibility. He cited achievements during his tenure, including expanding the structural map and achieving an 87% tax collection rate, while emphasizing his commitment to the town's social fabric.

Regarding national politics, Dakour discussed efforts to unify Arab parties for elections, which ultimately failed due to disagreements over joining the government coalition. He expressed satisfaction with an "agreement of honor" among Arab lists to avoid mutual attacks and focus on voter turnout. Dakour strongly criticized the current right-wing government for cutting approximately 3 billion shekels from the "550" economic plan, contrasting it with the positive impact of previous plans.

He warned of the danger of low Arab voter turnout, which was under 50% in the last election compared to about 80% among Jewish voters, calling it a "disaster." Dakour stressed that voting is a "fateful and national issue" to increase Arab representation and prevent the formation of a far-right government. He concluded by stating that heads of local authorities are working to raise voter turnout to over 70% to protect civil rights and combat discrimination.