For many years, I have enjoyed visiting the Arab cities and villages in Israel. Each time, I come face to face with the residents’ feelings of discrimination and bitterness, over and over. But I had never before encountered what I felt on election day this week, in the biggest Arab city in the sector. “Apathy” was the first word that came to mind when I got there, but when I looked more closely it seemed that another word was more fitting: despair. It was as clear as the sun that shone so brightly that day; one could almost feel it. And this despair was translated into anger that burst out so intensely that even the candidates of the Arab Knesset lists were astounded.
And they had good reason to be stunned. It became clear to me very quickly that most of the anger was directed against them, even more than against the Jews. The Arab MKs had tried to explain to them logically that mass non-voting would have negative repercussions. But as we know, anger and despair are irrational forces, and thus all the explanations were of no use. Also useless were their threats that a voting boycott by Arab-Israelis would only strengthen the Right, causing the incoming Knesset to be flooded with bills that would make their lives hell. Their allegation — “you are shooting yourselves in the foot” — did not help at all. On election day, logic did not prevail in Umm al-Fahm. As far as its Arab residents are concerned, one more bill against them makes no difference.
