Members of the Joint List Call for Arab-Jewish Unity

On Saturday, February 14, members of the Joint List called for Arab-Jewish unity at a massive event marking the launching of the campaign held in Nazareth. The Joint List ticket brings together Hadash (the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality) and the Arab parties. “Jews and Arabs must stand together against the ugly wave of hatred and racism,” said MK Dov Khenin of the Hadash faction, “and for a message of equality for all citizens of Israel.”

Leading figures from the Hadash-Arab parties Joint List launched their Hebrew-language campaign in the “Hagada Hasmalit” (“Left Bank”) Alternative Cultural Center in central Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening, Feb 11.

Leading figures from the Hadash-Arab parties Joint List launched their Hebrew-language campaign in the “Hagada Hasmalit” (“Left Bank”) Alternative Cultural Center in central Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening, Feb 11. (Photo: Joint List)

“Anyone who has eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to feel what happened here last summer should stand by us,” Khenin continued. “All persons with a conscience in this country should ask themselves, do they stand with the forces of war, hatred, and death, or with the forces of justice and equality, peace and life? There will be no peace and no life here until we free ourselves from the Occupation, because any nation which subjugates another nation cannot be free. Peace will only come with a solution based on independence and justice for both nations in this land.”

Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List-Ta’al) attacked Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s recent statements about the Joint List. “Lieberman claims that the aim of our list is to destroy Israel. We say to him: We are not involved in any such thing, but you yourself are managing to do this on your own very well. We, instead, are involved in nurturing the individual, and destroying the occupation and racism. You [Lieberman] gambled that we would not unite, yet we overcame inter-party rivalry to send a message of a strong, united minority. When we will be a large faction in the Knesset with 15 MKs, facing us will sit representatives of the right who will feel shame … their blood pressure will rise and the Knesset doctor will have to work overtime.”