Record Arab Voter Turnout Poised to Reshape Israeli Politics in Crucial Election

An unprecedented surge in Arab voter turnout is anticipated for Tuesday's Israeli elections, with the potential for Arab politicians to exert significant influence on the formation of the next government, according to political sources speaking to The National. Senior opposition figures have also indicated the possibility of a coalition or a minority government supported by Arab parties, should the mainstream parties fail to secure an outright majority.

Opinion polls, which have now closed under Israeli law, suggest the opposition could garner 56 seats, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is projected to win 50. The Arab parties are expected to secure 14 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.

With 61 seats required to form a government, the opposition, led by Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, faces a choice: establish a minority government with the tacit backing of Arab parties or enter a coalition with the Ra’am party, headed by Mansour Abbas. The influence of Arab parties could be further amplified by a substantial increase in votes for Ra’am and the Joint List, with turnout projected to rise from approximately 50 percent to 70 percent among the two million Arab citizens who constitute 20 percent of Israel's population.

“After witnessing the events of the past three years, they have recognized the difference between bad and worse,” commented an Israeli political observer, referencing the impact of hard-right parties on the political landscape. An opposition source revealed that if the bloc opposing Mr. Netanyahu assumes power, decisive measures will be implemented to curb settler violence and dismantle illegal dwellings in the occupied West Bank. “We will clamp down on settler violence, which has gone on for too long, because it is a disgrace to the country and because it is wrong,