Lod Mayor: Arab Parties Could Sit With Ben-Gvir in Coalition
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Lod Mayor Yair Ravivo suggested that Arab parties could join a coalition government, even with figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir, if pragmatic solutions are offered. He supported a broad Zionist government and urged an end to political boycotts. Ravivo also commented on the need to investigate the October 7th events and prepare for future threats, while criticizing the political efforts to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Lod Mayor Yair Ravivo believes Arab parties could join a coalition government, even with Itamar Ben-Gvir.
- Ravivo called for an end to political boycotts and the formation of a broad Zionist national government.
- He suggested that Arab parties focused on civic issues and partnership could be integrated into Israeli discourse.
- The mayor emphasized that Arab Israelis are primarily concerned with security, housing, and economic opportunities.
- Ravivo criticized the political efforts to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power.
- He stressed the importance of investigating the October 7th events and preparing for future threats.
Lod Mayor Yair Ravivo stated that Arab parties could potentially join a coalition government alongside figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir, emphasizing that Jewish-Arab partnership is feasible when pragmatic solutions are on the table. He referenced a letter from Arab local authority heads calling for the regularization of partnerships with Arab parties.
Ravivo explained his support for a broad Zionist national government, urging an end to political boycotts and encouraging parties like Yisrael Beiteinu and Likud, as well as the ultra-Orthodox parties, to sit together and resolve national issues. He noted that the conscription law, initially presented as a sacred issue, proved otherwise after only 24 hours.
He recalled advising Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2019 to include Arab parties in the Israeli discourse, suggesting the formation of an Arab party focused solely on civic issues and partnership, particularly for Arab citizens of Israel who have served in the military. Ravivo highlighted that these Arab Israelis are primarily concerned with personal security, housing, and economic opportunities, which he believes drive them towards crime and low-wage labor.
Ravivo also criticized the current political climate, suggesting hypocrisy in the pursuit of removing Prime Minister Netanyahu from power, stating that any means are deemed acceptable. He observed that past left-wing governments led by Ehud Barak and Naftali Bennett lasted only about a year to a year and a half, implying that the realities of life ultimately prove stronger than political maneuvering.
Furthermore, Ravivo addressed the calls for a state commission of inquiry, stressing the need to understand the events of October 7th and to prepare for potential future threats, such as a Palestinian incursion from the east. He expressed a sentiment that the country is constantly seeking someone to blame, but cautioned against using the desire to oust Netanyahu as justification for any action.
