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In the past few elections, two political parties—Hadash and Balad, have competed for the vote of non-Zionist, secular Palestinians with Israeli citizenship. Hadash was usually the bigger party (and it’s certainly an older party, as it dates back in different forms to pre-state Palestine before 1948). Both parties, but especially Hadash, also count on support from a (small) group of Jewish voters.
The two parties, who combined have held about 4%-6% of the Knesset seats in recent elections, have a much greater significance for non-Zionist political discourse in Israel than their electoral strength may suggest. The two parties stand at the center of the discussion among non-Zionist about the right strategy regarding the electoral process in Israel—whether to participate in it in order to glean whatever benefits may be gained, constantly challenging the concept of a Jewish state from within, or to reject the electoral process outright and boycott the elections.
The two parties have many similarities as well as ideological differences. Both parties support equal rights for all citizens of Israel regardless of nationality (which puts them at odds with Israel’s definition as a Jewish state), the establishment of a viable, sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 border (therefore both support the evacuation of the settlements and the division of Jerusalem), and both parties promote human rights, gender equality and democracy. Both parties are equally opposed to Israel’s attacks against Palestinians in the occupied territories as well the discrimination against Palestinians within Israel.
The differences between the parties are not insignificant, though. Hadash is a leftist party with a socialist platform and many communists among its ranks. It puts environmental concerns among its highest priorities, and promotes a joint Palestinian-Jewish struggle. Balad puts greater emphasis on Palestinian national rights and on transforming Israel from a Jewish state to a state of all its citizens.
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To read the whole article, click here <http://www.alternativenews.org/content/view/1602/381/>.