Turnout among Israel’s Arab voters could make or break hopes to unseat Netanyahu

Israeli Arab leaders are urging high voter turnout in next week's election to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mansour Abbas says Arab votes could enable a government of change led by Gadi Eisenkot, who has ruled out partnering with Arab parties. Polls show both blocs short of a majority, with Arab parties potentially holding the balance. Netanyahu's campaign uses doctored images, while Likud plans to send activists to Arab polling stations over unsubstantiated fraud claims. Turnout expected at 63%, up from 56% in 2022.

Israeli Arab leaders are urging high voter turnout in next week's election to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and topple the most right-wing government in Israel's history. The 21 percent Arab minority, over 2 million citizens, could tip the coalition arithmetic in favor of an anti-Netanyahu bloc led by former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot. Mansour Abbas, head of the Islamist Ra'am party, told Reuters that Arab voters can ensure the formation of a new government of change. However, Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with Arab parties, citing a lack of shared values and their refusal to label Hamas a terrorist organization. Opinion polls show Eisenkot's bloc winning 52-56 seats and Netanyahu's bloc 48-52, both short of the 61-seat majority needed. Abbas's Ra'am is projected to win five seats, with the Joint List winning eight or nine. Netanyahu's campaign has used doctored images and AI-generated videos depicting rivals embracing Arab leaders. Likud and Religious Zionism plan to send activists to Arab polling stations over unsubstantiated fraud claims, raising concerns of voter intimidation. Arab voter turnout is expected to reach 63%, up from 56% in 2022. The article also includes a fundraising appeal from the Times of Israel, asking readers to support their journalism.