Joint Israeli-Palestinian campaign ‘donates’ Israeli votes to Palestinians; Arab League calls on Israeli Arabs to vote to stop far-right; Netanyahu not to dismantle settlements if re-elected
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    • ISRAEL/PALESTINE

    According to reports, Palestinians living in occupied territories can now vote through Israeli citizens thanks to a protest initiative by Israeli and Palestinian activists. The Real Democracy project allows Israeli citizens to ‘donate’ their ballot to Palestinians. Many Israelis view the Israeli system as undemocratic given that the Israeli government rules over Palestinians but are not elected by them. The founders of the initiative say they have “thousands” of supporters, but many Palestinians are wary of being associated with a joint project with Israelis, that could place them at risk of being seen as collaborators. The project also aims to draw attention to reform of veto powers in the United Nation, instead calling for reorganising along the lines of the European Union. 1

    In another development, reports noted that the Arab League on January 20 called for Israeli Arabs to vote so that they can stop the establishment of a right-wing government “that will promote racist laws and ethnic cleansing.” The Cairo-based Arab League said it was following the trends leading up to the Israeli elections, which it claimed show that right-wing extremists “want a Jewish state under the banner of the Arab threat to the Land of Israel,” according to an article in the Egyptian paper Al-Masry al-Youm. Israeli Arabs make up at least 20 percent of the population of Israel and can be part of a strong opposition in the Knesset, the Arab League added. Israeli-Arab voter turnout was expected to drop lower than 50%, according to a Ma’ariv report released last week. The community’s voter turnout was around 53.4% in 2009 and was at its lowest point in 2001, when only 18% voted. Israeli Arabs make up at least 20 percent of the population of Israel and can be part of a strong opposition in the Knesset, the Arab League added. 2

    In other developments, according to reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that no Jewish settlements in the West Bank will be dismantled during his next term in office if he is re-elected in Tuesday’s elections. Polls have predicted that Netanyahu is set to have an easy win. Settlements have been a key obstacle to negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. Close to 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, though the settlements are considered illegal by the international community. 3

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