Joint List Urges Arabs to Vote as Turnout Lags Behind Jewish Majority
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
The Joint List party called on Arab citizens to vote in the final hours of the Knesset elections, noting increased but still insufficient turnout compared to 2022. The party reported alleged voting obstructions in Arab towns and criticized right-wing parties' requests to extend polling hours. Despite general turnout projections exceeding 80%, a ten-point gap persists between Arab and Jewish voters.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The Joint List urged Arab citizens to vote in the final hours of the Knesset elections.
- Arab voter turnout has increased but remains insufficient to close the gap with Jewish voters.
- The party reported alleged voting obstructions, including power outages and closed polling stations.
- A ten-percentage-point gap is estimated between Arab and Jewish voter turnout.
- The Joint List criticized right-wing parties for seeking to extend voting hours.
The Joint List political party urged Arab citizens to continue voting in the final hours of the 26th Knesset elections, stating that while Arab voter turnout had increased compared to 2022, it remained insufficient to close the gap with the Jewish community. Speaking at a press conference approximately two and a half hours before polls closed, the party expressed appreciation for Arab citizens who had voted across various regions, from the Galilee and the Triangle to the Negev and coastal cities, emphasizing the importance of participation until the very last moments.
The Joint List reported alleged obstacles targeting the voting process in several Arab towns, including power outages and the closure of polling stations. The party stated it had filed complaints with the Central Elections Committee regarding what it described as attempts to hinder citizens' democratic rights. According to data presented by the party, the general voter turnout reached about 68% by 6 PM, with projections suggesting the final percentage could exceed 80%. However, a gap of approximately ten percentage points was still estimated between Arab and Jewish voter turnout.
The party criticized requests to extend voting hours, which it attributed to right-wing parties including Likud and those of Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. The Joint List viewed these actions as reflecting the intensity of the electoral competition and the critical role of the final hours in determining the results. The party also called for assistance to the elderly, sick, and disabled in reaching polling stations and facilitating their vote. It urged young people and those waiting in line not to leave, stressing that every vote could be decisive in the election outcome.
