Arab Participation in the Knesset: An Examination of Efficacy and Legitimacy

This article dissects the relationship between the State of Israel and its large Arab citizen minority in two ways: by examining how government policies both suppress and support Arab influence in the political sphere, and how Israeli Arabs themselves navigate the complex challenges they face in the Jewish State. Specific attention is brought to four special-interest parties that advocate for Arab rights in the Knesset – Ra’am, Hadash, Ta’al, and Balad – and the Joint List coalition they formed between 2015-2022. The degree to which these parties are successful in improving the political and social conditions of their community despite systemic challenges is explored in detail, and in doing so, it is argued that Arab legislative participation in Israel is genuine, practical, and productive. This success is a testament to the resilience of ethnocultural minorities and to the strength of Israel’s democracy.