The future of the Palestinian vote in Israel | Elections
Palestinian Parties Achieve Historic Gains in Israeli Elections Amid High Voter Turnout
In the Israeli elections held on October 27, a total of 38 parties contested for office, with only two—both Arab parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel—advocating for peace, equality, and an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories. These parties recorded a historic achievement, winning 19 seats in the Knesset, fueled by an impressive voter turnout of approximately 80 percent among Palestinian citizens.
This significant electoral mobilization contributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to secure a majority. His political bloc garnered 53 seats, while the Jewish-led opposition received 48 seats. Following the elections, members of Netanyahu’s camp framed the higher participation of Palestinian voters as a threat, leading to increased tensions and incitement against Palestinian communities. Allegations arose about the election being “stolen,” with some voices calling for tightened restrictions on Arab voting.
The success of Palestinian parties raises critical questions within Israeli politics about the implications of marginalized citizens engaging in the electoral process. This situation poses a fundamental dilemma for Palestinian citizens: Can their electoral participation translate into genuine political power that equates to equal citizenship?
Longstanding Dilemma of Participation
Palestinian citizens in Israel have historically faced challenges regarding electoral participation. A lack of mobilization risks empowering the Jewish right, while voting does not guarantee that their interests will be represented in government policies. In the 1999 elections, Palestinian turnout was approximately 75 percent, with significant support for Labour Party leader Ehud Barak against Netanyahu. However, following the outbreak of the second Intifada and violence against Palestinian citizens, turnout plummeted to about 19 percent in the 2001 elections.
In the current political landscape, increased participation among Palestinian voters has proven consequential. Their higher turnout can diminish representation for the dominant political blocs, as evidenced in the recent elections. Despite this influence, the potential power of Palestinian parties in shaping governance has been limited by the refusal of Jewish-led parties to collaborate with them.
This exclusionary approach was exemplified in April 2021 when far-right politician Bezalel Smotrich criticized Netanyahu’s efforts to form a government in partnership with the Palestinian party Ra’am. He argued that doing so would risk further empowering Palestinian political influence, threatening the dominance of the Jewish right.
Although Ra’am later joined a coalition government formed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, it did so without national demands, instead recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and focusing on socio-economic issues. The coalition ultimately failed due to internal dissent regarding participation with Palestinian representatives.
In the wake of heightened tensions following the October 7, 2023 events, there has been an observable contraction of political space for Palestinian citizens. Reports of disciplinary actions against students for their social media activity, job losses, and police investigations into anti-war sentiments have surfaced.
The electoral process itself reflected this environment; the Central Elections Committee initially voted to disqualify Palestinian electoral lists along with specific lawmakers, although the Supreme Court later overturned these decisions.
Incitement and Responses to Electoral Success
Despite significant pressure, Palestinian citizens mobilized successfully during the recent elections, reflecting their determination to assert their rights as equals in the political arena. However, the parties they supported face isolation unless they align with the demands of Jewish-led counterparts, including endorsing Israel’s identity as a Jewish state and accepting military service obligations that currently exempt Palestinian citizens.
The heightened political climate has elicited increased incitement against Palestinians, especially from Netanyahu’s camp. Accusations of electoral fraud have proliferated, with some high-ranking officials labeling the mobilization of Palestinian voters as detrimental to the state. Former Deputy Knesset Speaker Moshe Feiglin characterized it as a critical turning point in Israeli politics.
With political success may come greater scrutiny and potential repercussions for Palestinian citizens. Their recent electoral gains compel Israeli society to confront the tensions between its identity as a Jewish state and its democratic claims. As political discourse intensifies, concerns grow that Jewish political dominance could further erode Palestinian civil rights.
Recent surveys indicate a declining tolerance for Palestinian voting rights among right-wing Jewish respondents. In a July survey by the Israel Democracy Institute, only 46 percent supported the voting rights of Palestinian citizens.
If current trends persist, experts warn that Israel’s assertion of democratic values may become increasingly tenuous, compounding fears among Palestinian citizens about the future of their political representation.
