Shimon Gapso has been the mayor of Upper Nazareth since he was elected in 2008. He succeeded Menachem Ariav, who had held the post for thirty years. Ariav was considered a powerhouse whose rule of the city went unchallenged. He had no qualms about waging fierce political battles. No one expected that his successor would be not only even more powerful than he had been, but also a violent racist who takes pride in his benighted ways.

Upper Nazareth, adjacent to the Arab city of Nazareth, was founded in 1956 as part of a program to “Judaize” the Galilee. It developed quickly over the years, and in 1974 it was declared a full-fledged city. Its population doubled in the 1990s, due largely to the wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union. New neighborhoods were built, and the city was transformed beyond recognition. Some of these newer neighborhoods, particularly Har Yonah, also attracted Arab residents.

Frustrated with the failing infrastructure in their city, Arabs from Nazareth tried to improve their quality of life by purchasing homes and apartments in Upper Nazareth. Low initial prices also contributed to a surge of new Arab residents. Today, some 18% of Upper Nazareth’s population is Arab. Most are Christians, though there is also a significant Muslim population. As the number of Arab residents grew, many called for an Arab school.

Gapso does not like the idea. More generally, he does not like the idea that there are Arabs living in his city. After a state comptroller’s report accused him of mismanagement and he was indicted for bribery, he decided to base his campaign for the municipal elections in October on his disdain for the city’s Arab citizens.