Arab Media Critically Covers Israeli Elections, Focuses on Candidates and Arab Vote

With Israeli elections just a week away, media outlets across the Arab world are closely following the campaigns, analyzing the candidates, and discussing the potential impact of the Arab vote. Coverage ranges from comparisons between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot to sharp critiques of Benny Gantz's political career.

Egyptian channel Al-Ghad featured commentator Amal Arabi, who labeled Gantz a "political novice" and criticized his decision to join Netanyahu's government after October 7th, suggesting Gantz felt betrayed by the public and fell into Netanyahu's trap. Arabi noted Gantz's ambition to be prime minister but pointed to his low poll numbers and lack of substantive campaign statements.

Saudi channel Al-Arabiya compared Netanyahu and Eisenkot, examining their approaches to the Gaza war, responsibility for October 7th, the Palestinian issue, and settlements. The channel highlighted the potential influence of Arab voters in Israel, suggesting that their turnout could limit the gains of Netanyahu and the far-right. Al-Arabiya noted Netanyahu's emphasis on military pressure and dismantling Hamas, contrasting it with Eisenkot's call for a clear security strategy and strengthening the army. On the issue of October 7th, Netanyahu's experience was contrasted with Eisenkot's commitment to a state inquiry commission.

Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat explored whether Donald Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu would impact the election results. Analyst Nazir Majali suggested the endorsement primarily benefits the right-wing base and may help Netanyahu regain some estranged right-wing voters, but its effect on those who oppose Trump is limited. Majali described Trump's statement as an opportunity for a "October turnaround" for Netanyahu, but cautioned that he must translate this support into votes.

The controversy surrounding racist remarks against Eisenkot, specifically host Yinon Magal's comments on Channel 14, also drew criticism in Arab social media. A Moroccan influencer condemned the remarks, stating that while criticizing Eisenkot is one thing, insulting Moroccans is unacceptable and that Netanyahu's supporters are willing to divide Israel by denigrating Eisenkot's ethnic background to protect Netanyahu's position. She argued that this reflects a broader condescending attitude towards Arabs.

Egyptian commentator Mohamed Saad Kheiralla observed a disconnect between ordinary Arab citizens and Arab regimes regarding the Israeli elections. He stated that for the average person, candidates like Netanyahu, Eisenkot, and Lieberman are indistinguishable. However, Kheiralla noted that Arab regimes and intellectuals clearly prefer a change in Israeli leadership, which he believes is reflected in media coverage, particularly from Saudi publication Al-Majalla, which he accused of acting as a propaganda campaign for Eisenkot.