Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday he hoped to make significant inroads among Arab Israeli voters as part of his election campaign, a demographic traditionally not seen as favorably disposed toward the Likud party and its leader.
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Netanyahu, who will be able to name officials to six slots on the Likud's Knesset slate, said that he was considering reserving one of them from an Arab MK, who he may name as Likud's first-ever Arab minister.
In a press briefing after meeting with the Umm al-Fahm resident who became the millionth Israeli to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, Netanyahu said that he believes that the Arab vote held "tremendous potential" for him.
"For many, many years, the Arab public was outside the mainstream," Netanyahu said. "Why? For no reason. Be part of Israel's complete success. This is what I would like to see in the next election.
"Over the past 15 years, I have brought NIS 1 billion [in budgets] for Arab communities to bridge gaps – more than any other government. I've opened nine police stationed in the Arab sector to fight crime. Did I do it expecting votes? I do it because o believe in it," he said.
The Likud, he stressed, "has nothing against Arabs – we oppose Arab parties that don't recognize Israel. I've produced four peace deals with Arab countries and now you see Jews and Arabs hug in Dubai – why can't that happen here? Why can't they [Israeli Arabs] be part of the ruling party? Why vote for radical parties that do nothing for you? Vote for us. Vote for me."
Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas, who has recently emerged as an unexpected ally of the prime minister, welcomed Netanyahu's comments.
"I was happy to be the first to identify and lead the change in the perception of politicians on the Israeli right towards Arab society, from having a hostile attitude to one that places them at the center of political discourse ahead of what is likely to be complex election campaign," he told local radio station Galey Israel.
"For months I have been accused of being a traitor and a collaborator, and for ripping the Joint Arab List apart, but we are willing to meet in the middle with whoever is willing to do the same with us. Right now, there is one prime minister running this county."
Abbas did, however, advise Likud "to focus on its own base. The Arab public will vote for those repressing it, especially when I am willing to sacrifice myself for it by getting into the fray.
"Comments on social media are horrible. I want to believe no one will try to hurt me – we all know what happened when there was a prime minister they called a 'traitor'. I challenge the criminal organizations and I work to eradicate them. I'm willing to sacrifice myself for my society."
Balad faction leader MK Mtanes Shehadeh slammed Netanyahu's appeal to the Arab sector.
"Netanyahu's chair is shaking so he imagines scenarios in which the Arab public will vote for those whom Netanyahu and the Likud oppressed and incited against. The Arab public will not for its biggest detractor."
New Hope leader Gideon Sa'ar also criticized Netanyahu, saying, "After years of inaction and failures, the prime minister has finally come around to talking about a plan to eradicate crime in Arab society. It is unfortunate that this issue was of no interest to him."
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