Weekly Commentary: Will the United Arab List Make History With Workable
Demands?
Dr. Aaron Lerner 29 March 2021
With the support of the United Arab List (UAL) possibly critical in the
forming of a coalition government it remains to be seen if UAL leader
Mansour Abbas makes history by presenting a set of workable demands.
Such demands could include for the Arab sector:
1. Increased funding for infrastructure and other public construction.
2. Increasing various education and training budgets.
3. Accelerating the zoning and building permit process.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has already delivered on record breaking government
spending on the Arab sector so making additional increases would be no more
than an expansion of programs already embraced by the national camp.
On the other hand, if Abbas opts to make demands which serve to undermine
the interests of the country, the UAL will get nowhere.
Such demands include:
1. Legalization of illegal construction covering huge areas of the Negev.
2. Rescinding the basic law which protects the Law of Return from revocation
by the Supreme Court.
Polls have shown that Israeli Arabs want their leadership to be players in
the Knesset and not just commentators.
Will Abbas rise to the occasion?
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