The city that brought ~87% to the polls: "You can't complain for 4 years and give up, racism had an impact"

Sakhnin recorded 86.8% voter turnout, the highest in Israel, in the 2026 elections. Residents attribute the increase to a sense of threat from the government, crime, and racism, which boosted motivation to vote.

The city of Sakhnin recorded the highest voter turnout in Israel in the elections for the 26th Knesset, with 86.8% of the vote, compared to 68.41% in the previous elections. Significant increases were also recorded in Baqa al-Gharbiyye (79.3%) and Fureidis (75.4%), and among other Arab localities. The article attributes the political awakening to several factors: a sense of insecurity due to crime and violence, opposition to government policy, anger over racist statements, and fear of home demolitions. Residents who spoke with ynet noted that the remarks of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, intended to deter, actually increased motivation to go out and vote. The article emphasizes that voting was seen as an opportunity to send a clear message to political leaders, and that the public now expects to see results on the ground in areas of personal security, the fight against crime, and equality of rights.

The city that brought ~87% to the polls: "You can't complain for 4 years and give up, racism had an impact"