Israeli Governments Blamed for Arab Citizens' Woes, Not Arab Lawmakers

The Israeli government has succeeded in using Arab lawmakers as a "human shield" to deflect anger from Palestinian citizens of Israel, according to the article. This tactic directs Palestinian frustration towards these lawmakers, making them appear responsible for the deteriorating conditions within Arab communities. Consequently, segments of the population hold these parliamentarians accountable as if they were the government itself, despite their role as parliamentary opposition in a divided Knesset. This narrative, the article argues, is a colonialist approach designed to absolve the Israeli establishment and its policies.

The piece contends that the Israeli establishment, which holds a monopoly on law enforcement and security, falsely blames Arab culture for issues like organized crime and violence. It asserts that successive Israeli governments and what it terms "racist Jewish elites" are the true culprits, having established and managed a state built on the displacement of Palestinians. These elites, the article claims, have continued policies of land confiscation, stifled Arab towns, and restricted resources for historical inhabitants while favoring Jewish citizens.

Furthermore, the article alleges that the government has enacted approximately 50 laws and amendments in the past decade that antagonize Arabs and frame them as enemies, citing the Kaminitz Law and the Nation-State Law as examples. It also accuses the government of encouraging and covering up organized crime and violence, and of inciting hatred and dehumanizing Arabs.

The author questions how the Israeli establishment, responsible for wars and occupation, managed to position Arab lawmakers as a "human shield." The article suggests this success reveals the state's power to shape public consciousness among Palestinian citizens of Israel, leading some to abstain from voting and others to criticize Arab leaders. It also points to a structural tendency among oppressed groups to blame themselves rather than their oppressors, a phenomenon reflected in the common phrase "The fault is ours."

Finally, the article criticizes some Arab leaders, including Mansour Abbas, for participating in the demonization of fellow Arab lawmakers in the Israeli media, rather than confronting the system of oppression. It labels this as a moral betrayal and an alignment with right-wing Jewish elites. True political awareness, the author concludes, involves dismantling and rejecting the policies of the Israeli establishment, which is ultimately responsible for the reality under its rule, while Arab lawmakers have historically stood with their people in struggle.