The New York Times · 9 July 1984

CP-1984-039

Israeli Politicians Court Long-Ignored Arab Voters

By Thomas L. Friedman

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Transcribed from the clipping

JISR AL-ZARQA, Israel, July 4 — Shimon Peres scans the eyes of the Arab voters in this tiny village, a grave look comes over his face and he asks the crowd in his somber baritone: “Is there anyone here who wants the Likud?” “Noooooooo,” the Israeli Arab audience replies in unison.

It is campaign day in Jisr al-Zarqa, a poor Arab village north of Tel Aviv, and several hundred of its Arab inhabitants have turned up in the central square to hear the Labor Party leader, speaking in Hebrew, try to win their votes.

More than ever before, Jewish politicians are looking to Israel’s 250,000 Arab, Druse and Bedouin voters to get them elected to the next Parliament. Arab voters in Israel have the strength to elect roughly 12 of the 120 members of the Israeli Parliament and in a close election, as this one is expected to be, their choices could be decisive.

“This is the first time that everybody is really going after the Arab vote,” said Shmuel Toledano, one of the Labor Party’s chief coordinators of its Arabic campaign. Here in Jisr al-Zarqa, Mr.

Peres plays the crowd with the efficiency of a neighborhood alderman, peppering his remarks with Arabic greetings, kissing a young Arab girl and reminding the locals about the new school, clinic and soccer field his party had promised, and delivered, since his last visit.

Although a village notable had to whisper to the audience, “Clap, clap” at the proper moments, the reception for Mr. Peres appeared to be genuinely warm. Just in case the soft sell isn’t enough to persuade Israeli Arabs to vote Labor, Mr.

Peres’s party is also distributing pink leaflets bearing a menacing-looking picture of Ariel Sharon with an Arabic reminder that a vote against Labor “will facilitate the return of Sharon to power.” Privately, Labor officials warn Israeli Arab leaders that if Mr. Sharon and the Likud are returned to office, Israeli Arabs will end up being treated as

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