Arab Parties Gain in Northern Israeli Cities, Sparking "Judaization" Concerns

Recent Knesset election results in northern Israeli cities, particularly in Nof HaGalil (formerly Nazareth Illit) and Acre, indicate a significant shift in the demographic and political balance. In Nof HaGalil, a city established approximately 70 years ago with the aim of strengthening Jewish demographics, the Joint List party received the most votes, surpassing the Likud party, which fell to second place. Nof HaGalil has become a mixed city, with official statistics from late 2024 showing its population is 47.3% Jewish, 40.4% Arab (Christian and Muslim), and 12.4% others. Some local sources suggest an uncounted number of Arabs have moved to Nof HaGalil from surrounding Arab communities, influencing its daily demographics without officially changing their voting addresses. Voter turnout in Nof HaGalil increased to approximately 62% in the recent elections, up from about 53% in 2022, with nearly 4,900 new voters participating. This shift is not concentrated in one neighborhood, as the Arab population is dispersed throughout the city. Previously, many polling stations showed near-unanimous votes for Jewish parties, but now most stations show mixed voting patterns. This change is attributed not only to population shifts but also to increased electoral engagement within the Arab community, leading to significant gains for Arab parties. Conversely, Jewish votes remain divided among multiple parties, contributing to the Likud's loss of hundreds of votes in the city.

A similar trend is observed in Acre, another mixed city where Arabs constitute about 40% of the population. Acre saw an increase of approximately 3,500 voters since the last election. While the Likud maintained its numerical strength, votes for Arab parties rose by about 35%, from 6,663 in 2022 to 10,213 in the recent vote. Polling stations that previously saw minimal votes for Arab parties now show between 9% and 23% support for the Joint List and Ra'am, who secured second and third place respectively behind Likud.

These electoral changes have raised concerns among local leadership. A new poll by "Direct Polls" for the "Lev BaGalil" organization found that about half of northern Arabs support a future change in sovereignty in the Galilee, with 27% viewing Jewish settlement lands as "Palestinian territory." The survey also indicated strong support within the Arab community for combating illegal weapons, with 76% favoring cooperation with police to report unlicensed firearms. Menachem Gendel, a Nof HaGalil city council member, criticized the outgoing government, calling the voting data a "wake-up call" and urging the next government to prioritize the "Judaization of the Galilee" as a national mission. Ofir Shik, chairman of "Lev BaGalil," echoed these concerns, warning that Nof HaGalil could be the "first domino" and that failure to define the "Judaization of the Galilee" as a national priority could lead to the region slipping away from Zionism.