Israeli president: Widening social gulf will lead to violence

Israeli president, Reuven Rivlin, has said that social and economic gaps in Israel have reached unprecedented levels, warning that if such gulfs continue to widen they will lead to “an outbreak of violence among citizens”, Anadolu agency reported.

Rivlin called for a prioritisation of economic and social issues in Israeli politics in remarks quoted by the Israeli national radio.

Israeli affairs expert Imad Awad told MEMO sources that, “there is an Israeli fear that the situation in Jerusalem and Arab towns will explode because of poverty and gaps between Israeli Jews and Arabs.” Awad went on to note that Israel prioritises security over equality of all its citizens.

“Differences between Arabs and Jews [have] resulted from discriminatory policies adopted by successive governments that view Arab Israelis as a threat that must be destroyed,” he commented. Awad also noted that, “the great danger that lurks in the next general election is despair and apathy.”

It is ironic that the percentage of the vote in the previous election was low among Arab citizens,” he added.

Voter turnout reached 66.6 per cent in 2013 elections, however only 57 per cent of Arab Israelis exercised their right to vote.

Israel is scheduled to hold early parliamentary elections on 17 March, 2015.