FAQ: Palestinians and the Israeli elections

posted on: Feb 27, 2015

The Israeli election season began months ago, but the Arab parties have only recently launched their campaign. Unlike other parties that will try to sway swing voters on election day, March 17th, their strategy is getting Arab-Palestinian citizens who have historically been apathetic or who outright boycotted elections to vote. Around half of Arabs in Israel did not participate in recent elections. But this time around, Arab parties are gaining ground. Early polls show the Arab-Palestinians are expected to jump from the lowest voter turnout rate to one of the highest in the country and could become the third largest party in the next Knesset. Yet questions remain as to whether the Arab factions with their assumed new clout will use that power to back a Zionist-left government in order to keep incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing bloc out of government. Or whether they will be politically marginalized, as they traditionally are. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about Palestinians and the election, and the answers.

Source: mondoweiss.net