Arab Joint List Urged to Avoid Past Mistakes on Government Endorsements
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
The Arab Joint List is advised to avoid repeating past political errors concerning government endorsements in upcoming Israeli elections. The article argues the list's legitimacy comes from its constituents, not its role in Israeli coalition building. Past endorsements of Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid led to governments that did not align with the Joint List's goals, highlighting the risks of granting political legitimacy without control over the outcome. The piece suggests refusing endorsements is a principled stance that doesn't preclude influencing policy through parliamentary action.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The Arab Joint List should avoid past political traps by carefully considering government endorsements.
- The list's legitimacy derives from its represented community, not its influence on Israeli coalition politics.
- Endorsing Benny Gantz in 2020 led to a unity government with Netanyahu, contrary to the goal.
- Endorsing Yair Lapid in 2021 resulted in a government led by Naftali Bennett.
- The Joint List can influence policy through parliamentary votes without granting open-ended political mandates.
As Israeli elections approach, the Arab Joint List is being advised to carefully consider its role in forming a future government, particularly regarding the endorsement of a prime ministerial candidate. The article argues that the Joint List's legitimacy stems from the community it represents, not its ability to influence Israeli coalition politics. It cautions against viewing the endorsement process as a pivotal political act or a negotiation tool, emphasizing that it should be a decision reflecting the identity and political boundaries of Arab representation in Israel.
While supporting the ousting of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir may be a shared electoral goal, endorsing a specific Israeli leader to form the next government is a separate matter. The piece warns that succumbing to pressure to endorse a candidate to avoid accusations of hindering government change could lead the Joint List into a political trap, as seen in past elections. The article highlights two instances: in March 2020, the Joint List's 15 lawmakers endorsed Benny Gantz, who subsequently formed a unity government with Netanyahu. In 2021, five of the six Joint List members endorsed Yair Lapid, but the resulting government was headed by Naftali Bennett with an unannounced composition and platform.
The author stresses that endorsing a candidate does not guarantee the outcome or the policies of the resulting government. The endorsement process is described as a ritual of a flawed democracy that legitimizes participation in the Zionist project and offers political backing without control over the final government's makeup or agenda. The article advocates for a principled stance, suggesting that refusing to endorse a candidate is not equivalent to supporting Netanyahu's continued rule. It argues that the responsibility for forming a government lies with the competing Israeli parties. The Joint List's influence, it concludes, can be exerted through parliamentary votes, legislation, and budgets, without compromising its identity or granting open-ended political mandates.
