Arab voters in northern Israel head to polls amid rising concerns over discrimination, violence

Voters in the northern Arab town of Mazra’a are turning out to the polls amid growing frustration over discrimination, violence within Arab communities and what residents see as a lack of government attention to their concerns.

For resident Samia Zina, the political climate has made voting feel more consequential than in previous elections. “I never cared in the past because the Knesset felt so far away,” says Zina. “But now I’m worried because there’s a higher level of racism than ever before.”

Mayor Fuad Awad is urging voters to support political change, arguing that the next government must address problems that have long affected Arab communities.

“We have to change the government,” Awad says. “We need leaders who think about the Arab sector, who worry about the northern periphery and the violence inside Arab society. We need a government that stops home demolitions and ends discrimination against Arab nurses and doctors who care for patients with so much compassion.”

Awad warns that failure to address these concerns could further marginalize moderate voices in Arab society.

“The message is that unless we change things, only the extremists will be left,” Awad adds. “We have no other country.”