The Arab parties' demand that the JNF-KKL stop planting trees in the Negev is a direct result of the electricity bill, which allows some illegally-built structures to hook up to the national electricity grid, being passed. Because the more they get, the more they want.
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The coalition should have prepared ahead of time for a law that encourages past transgressions to encourage continued barbaric behavior. Ra'am grasped that thus far, they have been too gentle. They thought that the government had red lines. That overblown demands would cause the right-wing flanks to dismantle the coalition. That there was a difference between monetary demands and demands that pertain directly to the national, Zionist issue.
Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas has declared more than once that in exchange for budgetary funds, he would be willing to put aside the national issue, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the issue of a Palestinian state. Last week, he realized he didn't have to, that he could have both. And if he could do so and also silence the Joint Arab List – so much the better.
The political system has pointed to the electricity bill as a watershed moment, not only for Ra'am and the Negev Bedouin, but the Israeli public as a whole. Many, including some who support the government, didn't believe that something like this could happen. They believe it even less now after the government stopped planting trees this week at the demand of Ra'am and the Joint Arab List. Under fire, no less, while the Bedouin there were rioting, blocking roads and throwing concrete blocks on train tracks – an incident that miraculously ended without anyone being hurt.
Local authority leaders from southern Israel say that in the past few days, the atmosphere has been the same as it was during Operation Guardian of the Walls. Head of the Omer Local Council Pini Badash called the situation on the outskirts of Omer a "mini-intifada." Jews in the area are becoming more afraid. There is a sense of a total loss of control. There is neither law nor order. The first wave this week passed without anyone being killed, but it will happen.
The same "electricity bill" watershed moment sent leaders of communities in Judea and Samaria out in protest against the government. They set up a protest tent outside the Prime Minister's Office. The tent, which started out using the slogan "First, Homesh," expanded this week, when the Judea and Samaria mayors were joined by heads of communities in the Negev. They are already calling explicitly for a change of government, pointing out that there was no difference between the Negev and Judea and Samaria. By caving to Ra'am and radical left-wing elements in the coalition, the government crossed every line possible.
It's not easy for these community leaders to come out and openly oppose the government. Many work constantly with several of its ministers. The ministers aren't obligated to anything, and the community leaders have no real leverage to promote their interests. Still, they protest.
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