Minister Strock Defends Remarks on Arab Parties Amidst President Herzog's Racism Concerns

During a discussion at the President's Residence, Minister of Settlement Affairs Orit Strock criticized Arab parties and the Arab public, stating that her opposition is not based on their ethnicity but on their nationalist ideology. She argued that these parties view the establishment of Israel as the "Nakba" and consider their victory to benefit enemies of the state. President Isaac Herzog questioned how to prevent racism in this context. Strock responded by pointing out that Arab citizens of Israel had the opportunity to vote for Yosef Haddad, an Arab candidate who served in the IDF. However, she claimed, they instead voted for candidates who see the establishment of Israel as a catastrophe. Haddad, an Arab-Israeli who served in the IDF, was presented as an alternative candidate by Strock.

Strock's remarks came during a meeting at the President's Residence, where she elaborated on her stance regarding Arab political representation. She emphasized that her criticism of Arab parties stems from their perceived nationalist agenda and their historical narrative concerning Israel's founding, which she described as a catastrophe. The President's inquiry into preventing racism prompted Strock's specific example of Haddad as a potential candidate who, in her view, represented a different path for Arab citizens.