Key facts
- Arab leaders are urging high voter turnout to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Gadi Eisenkot leads a bloc that may need Arab support to form a government.
- Polls suggest Eisenkot's bloc would win 52 seats, Netanyahu's 50 seats.
- Mansour Abbas' party is projected to win five seats, Joint List eight.
- Pollsters expect Arab voter turnout to reach 63%, up from 56% in 2022.
Palestinian leaders within Israel are urging the country's Arab minority to vote in large numbers in the upcoming election, aiming to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government. High turnout could significantly impact the electoral math, potentially supporting an anti-Netanyahu bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List party, believes that electoral realities might create opportunities for Arab parties to influence future government formation, even if Eisenkot has publicly stated he will not align with them due to differing values. Opinion polls indicate that Eisenkot's bloc may secure the most seats but fall short of an outright majority, necessitating some form of Arab support.
Netanyahu's campaign has reportedly used doctored images and AI-generated videos to depict his rivals in compromising situations with Arab leaders. Meanwhile, Arab leaders are seeking to leverage public frustration over issues like rising crime and the policies of Netanyahu's government. Pollsters anticipate a higher Arab voter turnout compared to previous elections.