Arab parties projected to win 18 seats in Israeli parliamentary election | Israel Election 2026 News
Record Voter Turnout Among Palestinian Citizens in Israeli Elections
In an unprecedented electoral turnout, approximately 80 percent of Palestinian citizens of Israel participated in this week’s elections, according to early exit polls. This marks the highest voter turnout in decades.
The exit polls reveal that Israel’s Arab parties, primarily the Joint List and Ra’am, are projected to secure a historic total of 18 seats in the 120-member Knesset. The results suggest that the main opposition bloc, led by former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party are currently tied, each expected to win 51 seats.
Voter turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel exceeded past elections, surpassing 1999’s records, as reported by Israel’s Channel 12. Mansour Abbas, leader of Ra’am, expressed optimism that the final election results would enable the anti-Netanyahu bloc, including his party, to reach the 61 seats needed to establish a government.
“With the numbers we have now, there is no government,” Abbas stated during an interview with Channel 12. His party currently holds five seats and previously participated in the coalition government from 2021 to 2022. Abbas noted that representatives from both major blocs had contacted his party before and after the vote.
In commenting on the potential for government formation, Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli ambassador, highlighted the complications faced by the opposing parties that had campaigned on a platform excluding Arab parties from coalition agreements. He remarked on the essential role of Arab representation, stating that they should not be sidelined.
“There’s a price to pay,” Pinkas emphasized, explaining that the Arab parties would likely make demands that a predominantly Jewish coalition may find difficult to accept.
On election day, Netanyahu’s coalition made significant efforts to mobilize voters, particularly in response to the increasing participation of Palestinian citizens. Reports indicated that cars decorated with Likud party flags drove through Jerusalem, broadcasting messages urging supporters to vote amid heightened concerns about Palestinian turnout.
In social media posts, Netanyahu drew attention to lines at polling places in Arab areas, depicting scenes of Arab voters at the polls, including women in traditional veils. He warned against the possibility of a coalition governed by Arab leaders, explicitly naming Abbas and fellow Knesset member Ahmad Tibi.
Overall voter turnout for the election reached 77.7 percent, marking the highest participation rate since 1999, as reported by the Central Elections Committee. Palestinian citizens, who represent about 21 percent of Israel’s population of 10 million, have historically voted at lower rates compared to their Jewish counterparts.
Nour Odeh, reporting for Al Jazeera from Ramallah, described the election as “an existential moment for Palestinian-Israelis.” She noted record participation from a demographic that has seen systemic discrimination and often opted out of the electoral process, emphasizing the significant engagement even among those who previously felt disenfranchised.
The Knesset has enacted over 100 laws deemed discriminatory against Palestinian citizens of Israel, exacerbating issues related to state funding and access to services.
