Challenges to Minority Political Representation and Democratic Inclusion in Conflict-Affected States: The Case of Arab Parties in Israel

The article analyzes the role of Arab parties and citizens in Israeli parliamentary elections, highlighting their pivotal position (21% of the population) but persistent marginalization. It details the challenges faced by Arab parties, including discriminatory laws (like the 2018 Nation-State Law), unequal representation, and the impact of the proportional representation electoral system. The article discusses the split strategies of Arab parties – Ra'am's pragmatic approach of joining a coalition government for tangible gains versus the Joint List's oppositional stance emphasizing Palestinian national identity. It also underscores how the ongoing Gaza war, following the October 7, 2023, attack, has further narrowed the political space for Arab parties and deepened divides, leading to voter disillusionment and making their path to power even more challenging despite their potential to be 'kingmakers'.