A new study by the Abraham Fund Initiatives is optimistic about the potential to increase Arab participation in politics.

Voting in Arab Society (2012), a study released by The Abraham Fund Initiatives points to a widespread desire among Arabs in Israel to take part in the decision-making process. However, to borrow terms from the business world, the Arab minority wants to be part of the board of directors, rather than a silent stakeholder. As long as this wish for effective participation is not fulfilled, most Arab citizens will continue to feel that voting is worthless.

During the early years of Israel’s existence, voter turnout among the country’s Arab citizens was often higher than that of the general population, attributed by most researchers to the military rule that was in place for Arab communities until 1966. Ever since, and particularly over the course of the last decade, Arab disillusionment with the Israeli political system has risen and political participation has declined, to the point where only 53 per cent of eligible Arab citizens voted in the last election (compared to 65 per cent of the general population), down from 75 per cent a decade earlier.

This decline is a cause for serious concern for those who care about Israeli democracy and about the future relations between Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel. Restoring Arabs’ trust in Israeli political institutions is critical to ensure that these bodies remain democratic and represent the will of the country’s electorate.

The study also found that Arab voters feel deep frustration over their perceived lack of influence on the political direction of their country. Only 46 per cent of Arabs currently believe that voting can impact government decision-making. Of those who voted in the last election, 38 per cent report that they do not intend to vote in the upcoming elections. Their frustration reflects a trend in Israeli politics to marginalise Arab members of Knesset. There is an unwritten rule in Israeli politics that Arab parties are not viable coalition partners, and in Israel’s history no