Palestinians Argue Israeli Elections Directly Impact Their Lives
Translated & summarized from Local Call by baba
Palestinians argue that Israeli elections are not an internal matter, as the resulting government directly shapes their lives under occupation without their participation. The author cites settler violence and religious justifications for land confiscation as daily realities impacting Palestinians. Personal loss is shared to highlight the human cost of the occupation. Ultimately, Israeli voters are urged to consider the consequences of their choices on the Palestinian people.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Palestinians state Israeli elections are not internal, as outcomes shape their lives under occupation.
- Settler violence and land confiscation are daily threats to Palestinian villages like Al-Muqayyar.
- A rabbi's ruling permitting olive theft from Palestinians is cited as religious justification for land seizure.
- The author shares personal loss of his son Yaakov to emphasize the human cost of occupation.
- Israeli voters are urged to acknowledge their choices' impact on Palestinian lives and futures.
Palestinians cannot view Israeli elections as an internal affair because the resulting government will shape the lives of Palestinians living under occupation without their input, the author argues. Writing from Al-Muqayyar, a Palestinian village where settler violence is a daily threat to residents, their land, and livelihoods, the author emphasizes that settlements, land confiscation, and attacks on Palestinians are not abstract issues but a daily reality.
The article highlights how religious symbols are sometimes used to justify land theft and attacks, citing a recent ruling by Rabbi Dov Lior, an influential figure in Religious Zionism and spiritual authority for Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party. Rabbi Lior's ruling permits Jews to steal olives from Palestinian lands, asserting that the land belongs to the Jewish people. While not all Jewish religious streams hold this view, the author contends that the use of religion to justify land theft from another people or to legitimize terror attacks, especially when supported by political factions within the government, becomes a broader political issue.
The author shares a personal tragedy, the loss of his son Yaakov during an attack on their home in Al-Muqayyar, to underscore that the occupation and settler terror have profound human consequences. These impacts include loss of life, families paying a heavy price, children losing their sense of security, and individuals forced to rebuild their lives under threat. This situation is not unique to Al-Muqayyar; Palestinians across the West Bank face similar challenges, while Gaza experiences a more devastating crisis due to the ongoing war.
Despite the differing circumstances and mechanisms across regions, Palestinians lack the ability to influence Israeli policy that directly affects their lives and futures. Therefore, the author insists that Israeli voters must recognize that their democratic choices have consequences for Palestinians. The article concludes by stating that even after the votes are counted and a new government is formed, the fundamental questions faced by Palestinians in Al-Muqayyar and throughout the Palestinian territories will remain unresolved, as the implications of Israeli policy do not end with an election campaign.
