Pollster Claims Arab Voters Not Primarily Anti-Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
A pollster surveying the Arab community stated that Arab voters are not as opposed to Prime Minister Netanyahu as commonly believed, attributing recent high turnout to reactions against his political environment, particularly ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich. The primary motivation for increased participation, he explained, is the urgent need to combat crime and violence. The pollster warned that the "change bloc" could face electoral punishment if they do not address the Arab community's concerns regarding these ministers.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Pollster claims Arab voters' opposition is not primarily directed at Prime Minister Netanyahu.
- Ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich are credited with motivating approximately 200,000 new Arab voters.
- The main driver for increased Arab voter turnout is the urgent need to combat crime and violence.
- Arab voter turnout in recent elections reached between 68% and 77%, exceeding previous levels.
- The 'change bloc' faces potential electoral backlash if they ignore Arab demands regarding Ben Gvir and Smotrich.
A pollster surveying the Arab community in Israel has challenged the notion that Arab citizens overwhelmingly oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the pollster, Mekelda, speaking on 103FM, the perception of strong anti-Netanyahu sentiment among Arab voters is inaccurate. He stated that in past head-to-head comparisons for prime minister, Netanyahu even outperformed Benny Gantz. Mekelda argued that the rise in Arab voter turnout, bringing approximately 200,000 new voters to the polls, was not driven by personal opposition to Netanyahu but rather by a reaction to his political environment, specifically citing ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich. These new voters, he explained, were previously uninterested in politics but were motivated to vote against this political sphere.
Mekelda noted that the high turnout, reaching between 68% and 77%, was anticipated. He highlighted that the motivations for voting in the recent period differ significantly from the 2022 elections. While the Ra'am party previously needed around 190,000 votes, it has now garnered over 335,000, and the Hadash-Ta'al list has secured 500,000 votes. The primary driving force behind this mobilization, he asserted, is the widespread desire within the Arab community to combat crime and violence, with 80% of the public prioritizing this issue and expecting political leaders to address it.
Interviewer Amihai Attali questioned the sentiment behind the increased Arab voter engagement, suggesting it could stem from trust in Israeli democracy, a sense of responsibility, or opposition to Ben Gvir. Mekelda responded by recalling that in the 2022 election campaign, the "change bloc" blamed Arab non-voters for their loss. He further contended that Ben Gvir's campaign, particularly in the Negev, and Smotrich's calls regarding Jewish settlement in the Galilee and Majd al-Krum, acted as catalysts for increased turnout. However, he reiterated that the overarching motivation remains the urgent need to address crime and violence to protect families.
Mekelda cautioned the "change bloc" that if they fail to address the Arab minority's minimal request to remove Ben Gvir and Smotrich from their political sphere, they risk significant electoral repercussions in future elections. He suggested that Arab voters might intentionally shift rightward in protest or abstain from voting altogether.
Mentioned
