A vote for Arab women

Changes in the national agenda of the state's Arab public are taking place concurrent to changes in the national agenda among Israel's Jewish population. The socio-economic question, which the Arab leadership has dealt with in a general and superficial fashion until now, is getting a boost from discussions on the upcoming elections.

According to a poll released by Tel Aviv University's Konrad Adenauer program, a decisive majority - over 60 percent - of the Arab public believe the socio-economic issue will be the one that most influences their vote for the next Knesset.

The poll's results are supported by the nature of increased political activism within the Arab sector prior to the elections, especially with regard to women's representation. Arab parties, institutions, social organizations and press are intensively discussing the need to ensure Arab female representation in the next Knesset, which, in turn, is being stepped up by widespread public support.

A survey conducted by the Ibn Haldun Center for the Women Against Violence organization found that over 80 percent of the Arab public is willing to vote for women to represent them in the Knesset. These findings come against the backdrop of social change under way in Arab society, feverish activity by organizations advocating social change, and a positive example set by factions vying for the Palestinians' vote in the West Bank and Gaza Strip prior to the Palestinian Authority's legislative council elections. On all of the lists, including that of Hamas, a sizable female representation has been promised.

Over the last two decades, there has been diverse activity to empower women in Israel's Arab society. However, the Arab political institutions remained closed to adequate representation for women.

This is also the case in Israeli society, which is closed to Arab women, and reflects its closed nature to the Arab national minority. Given such limited opportunities for leadership positions, both within Arab society and society as a whole, Arab woman have been left behind.

This is despite a significant increase in Arab women's education levels and their abilities and skills. And like any weakened group, this group always will be among the first victims of actions imposed against Israel's Arab minority.

Ironically, the empowerment of women did not benefit them in many cases, but rather prompted feelings of helplessness and frustration.

At a time when women's awareness grew, there was no corresponding increase in the opportunity to enter key positions within and even outside society. This phenomenon is repeatedly cited in reports published by various women's organizations debating the benefits of empowerment when the horizon is not open to self-realization.

In the last local council elections in 2003, three women gained seats among some 800 places within the country's Arab communities (including Druze). Most civil society organizations have very marginal female representation, and the Arab Knesset factions have yet to elect an Arab woman (the only Arab woman elected to the Knesset is Hosni Jabara, who represented a Jewish party - Meretz).

Every Arab town has dozens and hundreds of talented women who are more politically astute than the men elected to represent them in the local councils and Knesset.

This situation has led to further discussion of the need for female representation and a call to boycott those parties that do not guarantee such representation in their factions following the elections. The message has been refined to call for replacing the male representatives of Arab factions that embrace the slogans of equality, freedom and advancing the status of women, with women. This demand is backed by a strong argument whose essence is social change is a national objective that is no less important than ending the occupation.

Dr. Ghanem is the head of the University of Haifa Department of Government and chairman of the Ibn Haldun Association of Social Development.