Arab Israelis Achieve Historic Election Turnout, Signaling a New Political Era

While the final results of Tuesday's Israeli elections are still being tallied, a significant shift has occurred for Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, who constitute approximately 20 percent of the population. These voters demonstrated unprecedented engagement, with turnout nearing 80 percent, a stark contrast to their historical disinterest in Israeli elections. The projected gain of 17 to 18 seats by their parties could prove decisive, potentially positioning them as kingmakers in the formation of a government aimed at ousting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a political landscape often marked by division, the visible optimism and unity among Israel's Palestinian population at polling stations on Tuesday was remarkable for many. This stands in contrast to the deepening divisions observed within Israeli Jewish society through the same political process.

Yousef Jabareen, chairman of the Joint List, declared that the Palestinian Israeli party now represents a 'large, strong list that cannot be ignored' in any political configuration. He stated, 'We said we would be a safety net for our public on the urgent issues facing our community – violence and crime, the demolition of homes and entire villages in the Negev, racism in all areas of life, the lack of housing projects and industrial zones, and physical attacks on young Arab men almost every day. We will represent our public with pride and know how to make responsible, leadership-driven decisions to protect our community.'

Yair Golan, leader of the Democratic Party, the sole Zionist party advocating for collaboration with Palestinian Israeli voters, commented, 'The reality must teach us one resounding lesson: We have no future here if we don’t stop being afraid. And if we don’t stop with the racism. We must no longer accept Netanyahu’s racist division between Jewish votes and Arab votes.' He suggested that a governing majority is now attainable, with a coalition exceeding 61 seats. 'We have responsibility. And we have an opportunity to form a government of change in partnership with Israel’s Arab citizens. A government that will serve all Israeli citizens. Now we need courage. It takes leadership. It takes stopping the fear and starting to act.'

The high turnout also carries implications for the broader Palestinian cause, given the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and elsewhere, who lack representation. Despite this historic engagement, the community does not anticipate immediate, sweeping influence, remaining a marginalized group often shunned by the increasingly right-wing Jewish majority. However, experts believe mainstream Jewish parties will be compelled to acknowledge this shift. Should Palestinian Arab parties join a government, as they did in 2021, a Palestinian politician within the Israeli state could gain a rare position of insider influence, serving as a minister or Knesset committee chair.

Palestinian political analyst Xavier Abu Eid told The National that while Palestinian citizens of Israel have experienced 'awakenings' before, this election marks the 'first time that they truly believe that by voting they can make a difference, even if it’s a moderate one.' He attributed the significant vote to the 'existential' threat posed by the far right in Israel, noting, 'If that threat disappears, we don't know if that vote will disappear.'

Indications of a significant political shift were evident even before official turnout data emerged. Pollsters had predicted a substantial increase in turnout, fueled in part by the assertive agenda of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for his zealous pursuit of Palestinian home demolitions and his inaction on a severe crime wave within the community. As polls opened, reports of busy polling stations and attempts by far-right Israelis to delegitimize and disrupt the vote further signaled a major event unfolding. The National observed exceptionally high turnout at a polling station in a Nazareth secondary school, with voters of all ages and abilities arriving throughout the day. One 37-year-old woman, voting for the first time, expressed a desperate need for change after four years of 'catastrophe.' While the primary motivation for many was to unseat the Netanyahu government, issues such as the unchecked crime rate, which affects the 2 million-strong Palestinian-Israeli community disproportionately, also played a role. Voters proceeded despite the intimidating presence of a few Jewish settlers claiming to be 'observers,' who were largely ignored. Some observers suggested these actions inadvertently motivated increased Arab voter turnout.

While there are no guarantees that this electoral momentum will be sustained, and Israel may face further inconclusive election cycles, Palestinian-Israeli leaders now have concrete evidence that high turnout is achievable in their communities through robust campaigns and high stakes. Osama Khalid, an 18-year-old first-time voter for the Ra’am party, called the election a 'really huge breakthrough for us.' He noted that in the past, Palestinians with Israeli citizenship 'chose not to vote' due to a perceived lack of influence over far-right policies. Businessman Mohanad Salti, 26, shared, 'We hope we can change the situation for this election. I hope we can give more power to our groups so they can decide for us. Eventually, we want everything to be equal. Most of the people are very optimistic.'