Between “legitimization” and “exclusion,” the seeds of incitement grow

By: Mohamed Yahia

The Arab community—over two million people, full citizens—does not need anyone’s legitimization. The very idea of disqualifying lists or candidates simply because they are not Jewish is inherently unacceptable, and the use of the term “legitimization” in this context is insulting and degrading.

It is the state that needs legitimization in order to truly become a democratic state, a state for all its citizens without exception.

Moreover, the majority of the Israeli public does not fully understand the true meaning of the term “Muslim Brotherhood,” and it is employed as a tool of incitement against a broad segment of Arabs and Muslims.Legitimization – exclusion – incitement – hatred.

There is no need for Netanyahu’s stamp of approval, nor for the hesitant approval of his rivals who are unable to seize leadership and demonstrate true statesmanship.

The prime minister’s statement last week regarding outlawing the “Muslim Brotherhood” was aimed at delegitimizing the United Arab List (Ra’am), led by Mansour Abbas, in an attempt to block the possibility of forming an alternative government supported by one or more Arab parties.

Meanwhile, his current rivals—Bennett, Lapid, Gantz, or Golan—remain on the fence, and when they do speak, their statements are timid and subdued. This is even worse than Netanyahu’s own approach, which he views as either a principled stance or a decisive, shrewd political maneuver.Anyone who fears leadership and hesitates to take the helm will not be given the chance.

In contrast, Netanyahu remains, for now, the master of media spins and political maneuvers.

The notion of “legitimizing Arabs” in government, or disqualifying lists and candidates, is in itself degrading and offensive.

Two million Arabs do not need legitimization.

It is the state that requires legitimization to become genuinely democratic, to become a state for all its citizens.And most of the Israeli public does not understand the meaning of the term “Muslim Brotherhood,” which is used to malign and incite against a broad public of Arabs and Muslims.Legitimization. Exclusion. Incitement. Hatred.