Naama Lazimi - 2nd on The Democrats' Knesset list
" Friends,
So many of you have been writing to me. I'll try to respond to as many of you as I can. In the meantime, I wanted to write something here.
We've been through so much together over these past few years. Someone looking in from the outside couldn't possibly understand this period, which has profoundly shaped our lives.
A few words from me, which I hope will offer you some comfort and inspiration for the days ahead.
Here are the basic facts: The Change Bloc won. Netanyahu's coalition has lost strength and cannot form a government.
From here, things get more complicated.
First, it's okay to feel disappointed. Even when the numbers clearly favor the Change Bloc, hope and disappointment can coexist.
Yes, we expected more. We expected that after the deep divisions in our society, the judicial overhaul, the most horrific massacre since the founding of the state, the funding of Hamas, Qatar's involvement in the Prime Minister's Office, institutionalized draft evasion, the assault on women and our rights, the destruction of governing institutions, corruption, and mafia-like conduct — there would be an unequivocal outcome.
It's okay to say that. We expected more.
So now that we've gotten that off our chests, we move on with the mission.
Netanyahu does not have a government. He doesn't.
I come from a political tradition whose guiding principle is "the long haul."
We don't have the luxury of making irresponsible statements just to win seats. We're not politicians who say, "After us, the flood," and to hell with the country. Absolutely not.
We believe in people, in the long road of building partnerships, leadership, community, and a long-term vision.
Right now, the most important thing is to remove from their positions those who have trampled over everything, and to start taking action — electing a Knesset Speaker, establishing an Arrangements Committee and parliamentary committees, immediately establishing a state commission of inquiry, and more.
I promise you that the best people in our camp are working on it. I've had quite a few conversations, and so far I've come away encouraged.
The second thing is to overcome the barrier of fear and fearmongering.
I'm not saying this to Democrats voters alone, because we've openly declared on every possible platform that a coalition with Arab society and Ra'am is acceptable to us, and those who voted for us want that.
Nor am I addressing all those in the rest of the Change Bloc who support such a partnership — approximately 75%, according to studies.
I'm speaking to those who are still afraid, across the different parties and political camps. I've been receiving many messages like that, too.
Before getting into the moral and ethical vision, let me paint a picture of the life of a young Arab citizen in a country that has abandoned its most basic responsibility.
In the education system, that young person will receive 40% less funding than a child in the state religious education system.
Spoken Hebrew instruction is extremely limited, and there's a good chance they'll have only partial or virtually no command of the language, unless they make an independent effort or have access to it through other means.
This makes integration, finding employment, succeeding in higher education, and even the basic ability to dream and fulfill those dreams much more difficult.
After 7 p.m., it's better not to leave home, because a stray bullet from uncontrolled gunfire could hit them or someone they love. That's the reality of the Wild West created by criminal organizations that do whatever they please.
In fact, it could happen at 2 p.m. as well.
When there are language barriers, inadequate investment in education and extracurricular programs, and employment opportunities are lacking — when the state has disappeared and racism is rampant — how easy do you think it is for young people to fall into criminal organizations?
According to the Ministry of National Security, which presented its professional assessments at quite a few committee hearings I held on the subject, it's very easy.
According to those assessments, the lack of funding for socioeconomic development programs and initiatives to combat murder and crime effectively channels young people with little to do into criminal activity within Arab society.
These assessments were presented to me during hearings I initiated concerning irresponsible cuts to the multiyear development plans for Arab society — a political policy that deliberately deepened these serious problems.
2/2 — the second post
So I could go back to Herzl's writings and show how the visionary of the Jewish state aspired to a state that would provide equality for everyone living in it, including minorities and the country's Arab citizens.
I've also shared our Declaration of Independence, the founding document of our nation, here many times.
But I want you to return for a moment to what I've just described and ask yourselves: What is better for our country? An inclusive policy that values human life and takes responsibility for all its citizens, or a policy that fuels another Guardian of the Walls, denies equal opportunities, and undermines our ability to live good lives together here?
I've visited Arab communities countless times. The thing that motivated them most to go out and vote was the desire to live!
The longing for action against criminal organizations, and for Ben Gvir to stop serving as minister, because during his time in office, around 900 citizens have been murdered and thousands have been injured.
While such widespread civic participation, unprecedented in Arab society, is indeed moving, you should understand that it comes from a place of profound crisis, from the feeling that the state has completely abandoned them.
Before the cost of living, the lack of equality, the Kaminitz Law, and racism, they are simply tired of being murdered.
Tell me, isn't this something basic that the state is obligated to provide?
And when people who oppose our vision of Jewish-Arab partnership approach me, I always ask them: When you're in a hospital, entrusting your life to Arab medical teams, are you afraid?
I've never heard anyone say yes.
Every single day, we interact with Arab society in ways that save lives.
So can't we work together to combat murder and crime, promote integration, expand civilian service, increase participation in the economy, and more?
Of course we can!
This is the realization of the Zionist vision. This is the realization of coexistence, and it is the only way for us to grow and prosper together here.
I'm very proud of my party leader, Yair Golan, who, as always, didn't hesitate and immediately threw himself into the task.
I admit I'm disappointed that The Democrats aren't a larger party, especially at a moment like this. But with our eight Knesset seats, we will do absolutely everything we can to help Israel emerge from this difficult situation, to build a country worthy of our children, one that will care for them, and to secure a future of hope for them.
I have much more to write about the long-term vision for rebuilding the country, restoring its social fabric, and reshaping Israeli politics.
But right now, eyes on the ball.
We have many tasks ahead of us and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We must not miss it.
Let's form a government of change that brings new hope.
It's up to us.
Political courage, forward-looking statesmanship, hope. "
https://x.com/naamalazimi/status/2116119898929738200?a=jSe0G1TsLbDbFADTzG0&s=20
This thread's goal is to show the election campaign Israel has entered into this month. I am going to show the dynamics here in a new way, which is even more transparent and direct than before. The main emphasis here will be party leaders' daily declarations, the secondary emphasis will be key journalists and Knesset members. I don't want you to suffice with tweets I add here but also to enter the links I will add to every message, read further about the candidates's tweets, and follow twitter's suggestion for you on more politicians from the same political camp. The camps will be represented as evenly as possible and polls will be shown on a weekly basis. All tweets I will add here are originally in Hebrew and aimed to Israeli ears, therefore they reflect a purely internal discussion. I hope you will enjoy reading this thread and you can always ask whatever you want, even if it will be emotionally uncomfortable for me 😝