Arab Citizens Opt to Back Government as 'Security Net' After Record Turnout

By יניב שרון

Translated & summarized from Davar by baba

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Hebrew · 5 newsrooms covering

Arab citizens of Israel achieved an unprecedented 80.3% voter turnout in the recent election, largely as a protest against right-wing rhetoric. This surge is expected to result in the Joint List winning 11 seats and Ra'am winning eight. Sociologist Nohad Eley suggests the leading option for Arab parties is to act as a "security net" for a potential change government. He also advocates for a unified negotiation strategy with parties like Yisrael Beiteinu on key civil issues.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Arab voter turnout reached a record 80.3%, a significant increase from the previous election.
Sociologist Nohad Eley states the vote was a protest against right-wing parties and perceived attacks on Arab society.
The Joint List is projected to win 11 seats, and Ra'am is expected to secure eight seats in the Knesset.
The leading option for Arab parties is to serve as a 'security net' for a potential change government.
Professor Eley urges Arab parties to negotiate collectively from a position of strength on civil issues.

Arab Citizens Opt to Back Government as 'Security Net' After Record Turnout — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Arab citizens of Israel turned out in unprecedented numbers for the recent Knesset elections, with an 80.3% voter turnout, a significant increase from 53.9% in the previous election. Professor Nohad Eley, a sociologist at Western Galilee College, attributes this surge to a protest against the right-wing parties' rhetoric and perceived attacks on Arab society. "The Arab public flocked to the ballot boxes and mostly voted for the two Arab parties," Eley stated, explaining that the vote was a "protest against the situation of the Arab public in all areas."

The high turnout translated into electoral success, with the Joint List expected to be the third or fourth largest party in the Knesset with 11 seats, and Ra'am projected to win eight seats. Eley differentiates the parties' approaches, noting that the Joint List favors integration and aims to serve as a "security net" for a potential change government, while the majority of the Arab public finds Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas's approach "too much" and struggles with the extent of integration.

Eley also highlighted that the increased turnout, particularly among young people and women, will lead to better representation, with two or three Arab women expected to enter the Knesset from the Joint List, though he acknowledges this is still insufficient. He also noted a significant rise in Bedouin voter turnout in the Negev, with Ra'am maintaining its traditional support base due to its more traditional stance, while the Joint List also gained votes due to the inclusion of Bedouin candidates.

The Druze community also saw higher turnout, but Eley explained their growing disappointment with the "Nation-State Law" and perceived discrimination, leading many to support Arab parties as they felt excluded from Jewish parties. Regarding coalition negotiations, Eley believes the Arab public would not permit Ra'am to join a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it "suicide" for the party given the current government's actions. He suggests the most viable option for Arab parties is to act as a "security net" for a change government and negotiate collectively from a position of strength on critical civil issues like violence, housing, and unemployment.