Palestinian Israelis: Seeking Fairness in the Knesset

Palestinian citizens suffer pervasive discrimination and unequal allocation of resources in land, education, and municipal services. At the same time, traditional family and clan structures in Palestinian society make it difficult for young people, women, and professionals to assume leadership positions. The result has been a significant decline in the participation of the Palestinian public in national elections and a lack of confidence in both their sector’s leadership and the Israeli political system at large.

The 2015 election is a milestone for Israel’s Palestinian minority. Three Arab parties have recently combined into a new party that could increase Arab representation and clout in the Knesset. At the same time, NIF grantees such as The Mossawa Center: The Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel are working to “get out the vote” and ensure that Arab leadership in Israel is strong, effective, and responsive, as well as continuing to promote the ongoing issues facing the Palestinian minority.

The call will open with a brief "Election Update" with Noam Sheizaf of +972 Magazine, followed by a panel discussion of these issues in the context of the 2015 election: