Arab Media Critically Covers Israeli Elections, Focusing on Candidates and Arab Vote
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Arab media outlets are closely monitoring Israel's upcoming general election, comparing candidates like Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot and analyzing the potential impact of Arab voters. Benny Gantz faced criticism as a "political novice" from Egyptian media, while Saudi channels debated Netanyahu's and Eisenkot's policies. Racist remarks against Eisenkot by an Israeli host drew condemnation on Arab social media. Egyptian commentator Mohamed Saad Kheiralla noted that while ordinary Arabs see little difference between candidates, Arab regimes and intellectuals generally desire a change from Netanyahu's leadership.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Arab media outlets are closely following Israel's upcoming general election, analyzing candidates and the Arab vote.
- Egyptian media called Benny Gantz a "political novice" and criticized his past decisions.
- Saudi channels compared Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot on key policy issues.
- Racist remarks against Gadi Eisenkot by an Israeli host sparked outrage on Arab social media.
- An Egyptian commentator noted Arab regimes prefer a change from Netanyahu's leadership.
As Israel approaches its general election in one week, media outlets across the Arab world are closely following the campaign, analyzing the candidates and 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 betrayed his constituents and fell into Netanyahu's trap. Arabi noted Gantz's perceived ambition to be prime minister despite low poll numbers.
Saudi channel Al-Arabiya compared Netanyahu and Eisenkot, discussing their approaches to the Gaza war, responsibility for October 7th, and stances on the Palestinian issue and settlements. The channel highlighted the potential influence of Arab voters in Israel, suggesting that high turnout could limit the gains of Netanyahu and the far-right. Al-Arabiya also contrasted Netanyahu's emphasis on military pressure with Eisenkot's call for a clear security strategy and noted Eisenkot's opposition to a far-right minister managing the West Bank.
Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat examined the impact of Donald Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu, with commentator Nazir Majali suggesting it primarily benefits the right-wing base and may not sway undecided voters. Majali described Trump's statement as an opportunity for Netanyahu to shift the election's momentum, but cautioned that past instances show foreign endorsements don't guarantee electoral success.
Racist remarks made by Israeli channel Channel 14 host Yinon Magal against Eisenkot, referring to his Moroccan heritage, sparked outrage on Arab social media. A Moroccan influencer condemned the comments, stating that while criticizing Eisenkot is acceptable, insulting Moroccans is not, and accused Netanyahu's supporters of using ethnic slurs to protect his position.
Egyptian commentator Mohamed Saad Kheiralla observed a disconnect between ordinary Arab citizens and their regimes regarding the Israeli election. He stated that for the average person, candidates like Netanyahu, Eisenkot, and Lieberman are indistinguishable. However, Kheiralla noted that Arab regimes and intellectuals generally prefer a change in Israeli leadership, which he believes is reflected in media coverage favoring any candidate other than Netanyahu. He also pointed to the Saudi magazine Al-Majalla as seemingly running a campaign for Eisenkot.
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