Palestinian-Led Parties' Election Surge Met with Intimidation and Smear Campaigns in Israel

Following the official certification of Israel's general election results, which saw Palestinian-led parties achieve a record 19 seats, an aggressive crackdown has been initiated against them. This includes police raids, arbitrary arrests, and targeted interrogations by state security apparatuses. The significant electoral gains by the Joint List and the United Arab List (Ra’am) could empower the Zionist opposition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next government, contingent on their cooperation with the Arab parties. However, Netanyahu and his allies have characterized the increased vote share for these parties as a result of illegality, asserting they do not represent Jewish Israelis.

Political analyst Mamoun Abu Amer stated that the ensuing backlash was pre-planned, noting a systematic campaign initiated when Arab citizens mobilized heavily, particularly in villages, the Naqab, and Bedouin areas. He suggested that the high turnout shocked the Israeli political establishment, prompting Netanyahu to launch a smear campaign to discredit the democratic process. Ahmad Tibi, leader of the Ta’al Party within the Joint List, echoed this sentiment, pointing out the lack of evidence for election manipulation in Arab towns. He noted that the high voting rate was anticipated due to the current government's policies. Tibi also cited a Channel 12 report suggesting the Likud party had prepared a narrative of falsehoods before the elections, anticipating a loss.

The intimidation campaign manifested through aggressive police actions on election day. Several Ra’am supporters were arrested for alleged vote-buying, which Likud used to claim an attempt to steal the election. However, many detainees were released, with a judge questioning the necessity of the restrictions and noting weakened suspicions. Defense lawyers argued the seized funds were for charitable assistance, a point Tibi highlighted by stating, “The best proof of this is that the detainees were released.” The security crackdown extended to media personnel, with journalist and political activist Abd Abu Shahadeh being arrested by Israeli police and the Shin Bet. Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Balad Party, described this as an attempt by Netanyahu to “steal the elections.”

Human rights expert Mustafa Ibrahim linked Netanyahu's approach to discriminatory state policies dating back to 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced during the Nakba, and the subsequent period of military rule until 1966. Ibrahim stated that Palestinian citizens of Israel have historically been viewed as a “fifth column” and “enemies of the state.” Tibi emphasized that the suppression of Palestinian rights is part of an ongoing pattern, citing political intimidation that began as early as October 7, 2023, with community members being investigated for minor online activities. He also mentioned the Israeli electoral committee's initial disqualification of Palestinian-led parties in late September, later overturned by the Supreme Court, as part of this campaign. Tibi concluded that the goal is to intimidate them from political engagement.

The political pressure has also affected Israeli state institutions. Shin Bet Director David Zini requested to interrogate senior Palestinian lawmakers, including Tibi and United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas, over foreign interference claims. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara denied this request, drawing criticism from Netanyahu's Likud party. Abbas dismissed the allegations as attempts to “smear the Arab public.” Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for Baharav-Miara’s removal, accusing her of trying to incriminate ministers. Abu Amer suggested this reflects Netanyahu’s strategy of using figures like Ben-Gvir to execute such tasks. Ibrahim noted that this political incitement occurs against a backdrop of systemic racism, with the targeting of the national minority supported by the government and head of state, amidst ongoing violence in Palestinian communities in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem.

The Palestinian-led parties now aim to leverage their increased parliamentary presence to address these issues and others facing their community. Tibi expressed hope that the current situation will backfire on their opponents, stating, “The direct practical step is to overthrow them politically, and this comes through several procedures, operations, and a parliamentary step. But we will not stop at overthrowing them, rather we will work to improve the reality for the better.”