3 ms·

They have a lot of potential political power. They refuse to use it.

IX-103 2y ago
"Refuse to use it" like African Americans in the Jim Crow south? Or is there some other context driving their non-participation?
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago
  > is there some other context driving their non-participation? Muslim Israelis have representation in the Knesset. Their community simply hasn’t aligned itself with the American pro-Palestinian movement. (There are absolutely racism issues in Israel. But it’s not Jim Crow.)
- xenospn 2y ago
  Huh? They simply refuse to vote. They could have considerable power to transform Israeli politics if they did.
JumpCrisscross 2y ago
> refuse to use it Or they’re a diverse set of people whose views can’t be summarised based on their race and religion alone. I doubt, for example, many of them are in favour of a one-state solution.
- xenospn 2y ago
  How is that relevant? There’s multiple Arab parties in Israeli politics. None of them wield any serious power because the people with the diverse set of views they attempt to represent don’t vote.
- edanm 2y ago
  Actually, as far as I understand it, most have historically preferred not to engage with the Israeli political system for ideological reasons. This is changing somewhat over the last few years. Though I'm not a member of that group, so I don't want to misrepresent "their" views (and of course there is no such thing as "their" views, as you mentioned, they are a large and fairly diverse group). > I doubt, for example, many of them are in favour of a one-state solution. Why do you say that?
  - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
    > Why do you say that? Israel is rich. Palestine is poor. It would be on par with a German or Korean reünification in terms of cost. Also, Israel has a relatively-liberal voting population. Palestine does not. One could have reasonable concerns around losing valued freedoms if a single Palestinian state drifts towards regional norms.
    - xenospn 2y ago
      Israeli Arabs know they have it much better in Israel than anywhere else in the region. They historically have been highly opposed to proposed land-swaps/unification deals with the PA.
    - edanm 2y ago
      Again, I'm not a Palestinian-Israeli. I'm sure some share that attitude, but considering that many have families that are "on the other side of the border", I think there's quite a few that do want one unified country with everyone having voting rights. It's been argued for quite eloquently by several very prominent Palestinian voices, too (not necessarily Palestinian-Israeli voices).
      - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
        > there's quite a few that do want one unified country Of course. The original point was that they defy, as a community, summary.

"Refuse to use it" like African Americans in the Jim Crow south? Or is there some other context driving their non-participation?

JumpCrisscross 2y ago
> is there some other context driving their non-participation? Muslim Israelis have representation in the Knesset. Their community simply hasn’t aligned itself with the American pro-Palestinian movement. (There are absolutely racism issues in Israel. But it’s not Jim Crow.)
xenospn 2y ago
Huh? They simply refuse to vote. They could have considerable power to transform Israeli politics if they did.

JumpCrisscross 2y ago

> refuse to use it Or they’re a diverse set of people whose views can’t be summarised based on their race and religion alone. I doubt, for example, many of them are in favour of a one-state solution.

xenospn 2y ago
How is that relevant? There’s multiple Arab parties in Israeli politics. None of them wield any serious power because the people with the diverse set of views they attempt to represent don’t vote.
edanm 2y ago
Actually, as far as I understand it, most have historically preferred not to engage with the Israeli political system for ideological reasons. This is changing somewhat over the last few years. Though I'm not a member of that group, so I don't want to misrepresent "their" views (and of course there is no such thing as "their" views, as you mentioned, they are a large and fairly diverse group). > I doubt, for example, many of them are in favour of a one-state solution. Why do you say that?
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago
  > Why do you say that? Israel is rich. Palestine is poor. It would be on par with a German or Korean reünification in terms of cost. Also, Israel has a relatively-liberal voting population. Palestine does not. One could have reasonable concerns around losing valued freedoms if a single Palestinian state drifts towards regional norms.
  - xenospn 2y ago
    Israeli Arabs know they have it much better in Israel than anywhere else in the region. They historically have been highly opposed to proposed land-swaps/unification deals with the PA.
  - edanm 2y ago
    Again, I'm not a Palestinian-Israeli. I'm sure some share that attitude, but considering that many have families that are "on the other side of the border", I think there's quite a few that do want one unified country with everyone having voting rights. It's been argued for quite eloquently by several very prominent Palestinian voices, too (not necessarily Palestinian-Israeli voices).
    - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
      > there's quite a few that do want one unified country Of course. The original point was that they defy, as a community, summary.