Arab Israeli parties could hold the balance of power after the election, with a push to unseat the right-wing coalition despite long-standing disaffection and discrimination.
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01Summary
- 01Polls suggest neither Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the Change Bloc will win a clear majority, with Arab parties potentially winning 13-14 of 120 seats.
- 02Arab Israelis, about a fifth of Israel's population, face increased mistrust after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack and the Gaza war.
- 03Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has vowed to "Judaise" Arab-majority areas in the Galilee and Negev.
- 04Netanyahu's campaign has used billboards and AI-generated videos to portray opponents as aligning with Arab leaders.
- 05United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas, who was a minister in a previous government, aims to join the next coalition despite other parties' reluctance.
02Why it matters
The outcome could decide whether Israel's next government includes Arab parties for the first time, affecting policies on equality, budgets and civil rights for Arab citizens.
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