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Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=31129
Winds of Change in the Israeli Arab Sector
(Israel Hayom) Prof. Amnon Rubinstein - For the first time in years, the heads of Arab local authorities have voiced their unequivocal support for cooperating with Israel and the Jews, and have urged their publics to abandon the path of conflict. An article in the financial daily The Marker in September quoted Talal Al-Krenawi, mayor of the southern Bedouin town of Rahat, saying, "I propose we change the conversation between us. Let's base it on shared successes, not tragedies. In other words, let's actually coexist instead of focusing on threats." In October, Nazareth Mayor Ali Salam told Israel Hayom, "The truth is, there is no other option but to live together. Do you know another way? Coexistence is the only [option], in Israel - between Jews and Israeli Arabs, living side by side, in equality. I have no problem living in peace in a state with a Jewish majority, and I'm telling you that 99% of the Arabs are like me. This is my country and I've never thought ill of Israel." The writer, a former professor of law at Tel Aviv University, served in the Knesset between 1977 and 2002 and headed four Israeli ministries.