A Jewish-Palestinian majority demanded change

Standing Together responds to the early indications from the Israeli elections of 27 October.

In Israel’s election yesterday, an unprecedented majority of Jews and Palestinians voted for change – approximately 67 mandates to Netanyahu’s 53. While the final votes are still being counted, there are a few things we know for sure:

1.

A majority of citizens in this country just rejected Netanyahu’s far-right coalition with its endless violence, messianism, and Jewish supremacy. That coalition won’t be able to rule in the next government.

2.

Palestinian citizens of Israel in particular voted in record numbers. Some 80% of Palestinian society turned out, compared with 53% in the 2022 elections. This happened despite efforts by those in power to intimidate them, disqualify their representatives, and keep them at home.

3.

Now is the time to turn this Jewish-Palestinian majority into a Jewish-Palestinian government. The Jewish opposition parties must partner with the Arab parties and deliver change for everyone. This is the first step in the future of peace, equality, and justice that we need urgently.

Standing Together had a part to play in these record numbers. We’re proud of our activists who worked in our campaign to get out the vote in Palestinian society and reached masses of people on the street, through phone banking, and online and helped more Palestinians than ever participate in this fight.

The people in our society need and deserve an alternative to the endless cycles of bloodshed and grief offered by politicians. And that’s why our role now is to continue building a mass movement based on mutual interests of ordinary Jews and Palestinians on this land. These elections have proved what we know and have been fighting for at Standing Together for 11 years now – only Jewish-Palestinian partnership can bring the change we all deserve.