alternatehistory.com

One of the biggest trends in Israeli politics is the racial divide. Traditionally, white Ashkenazi Jews have backed socialist parties and the Mizrahi Jews (ones from Arab and North African countries) have backed right wing parties or religious parties, with Likud and Shas being the most notable of the two. Russian ex-pats on the other hand tend to support extreme nationalist parties.

I have never really understood this divide, but I am interested in how it could be changed. Historically, the Mizrahi were victims of discrimination when they arrived, often living in squalid tent cities for years after fleeing Arab countries, and to an extent, there is still a racial issue. Ashkenazi Jews tend to attend college in much higher numbers, have more relative wealth, better job security, and face less challenges in gaining housing. Prejudice still exists, and this past election was a huge racial talking point, with Ashkenazi intellectuals afterwards castigating the Mizrahi for their support of Likud, often in racist dialogue.

Basically, I am wondering how this trend could have been changed. The Mizrahi were a huge factor in the election of 1977 that overthrew the Socialists for the first time. Do you think that had the Socialist government been less discriminatory towards the Mizrahi at the time of their arrival in the 50s and 60s, we might see a more vibrant Mizrahi Left Wing?

By the same token, for a party that attracts a lot of Mizrahi and Sephardic votes, Likud has a very white leadership group. Do you think this could have changed as well?
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