The absence of Palestinian citizens of Israel in the recent large-scale protests against a government plan to overhaul the judiciary, despite the potential negative impact on their community. Many Palestinian Israelis view the demonstrations as an exclusively Jewish movement that fails to address their issues and reinforces the idea that there is no place for them in Israel.
The plan would likely weaken the judiciary’s independence and give the government control over judicial appointments and review. While Jewish protesters aim to safeguard the Supreme Court, Palestinian Israelis see the court as having repeatedly failed them and view Israel’s democracy as tainted by discrimination and occupation. Despite having the right to vote and representation in parliament, Palestinian Israelis continue to face discrimination in housing and jobs and are viewed with suspicion by many Jewish Israelis. The article concludes by suggesting that as a minority, Palestinian Israelis could have even more to lose were Israel to become more illiberal.
While they have the right to vote and are represented in parliament, they have faced discrimination in various areas of life, including housing and employment. And as the article points out, many Palestinian Israelis feel that the Israeli legal system has failed them in the past, particularly with regards to issues such as land rights and home demolitions. If the government were to gain more control over the judiciary, as the proposed plan would allow, it could potentially exacerbate these problems and make it even harder for Palestinian Israelis to seek justice and equality.
