Palestinian citizens of Israel face a tense choice between voting in the upcoming election as a shield against far-right policies and boycotting a system they see as illegitimate, with turnout likely to decide the outcome.
01Summary
- 01Israel holds its general election on October 27, with opinion polls showing neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition able to form a government without Arab-led parties Ra'am and the Joint List.
- 02Laila Atamneh, 19, will vote for the first time, saying she feels a responsibility to Palestinians in the occupied territories who have no say in the election.
- 03Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich released an AI-generated video threatening Palestinian land in the Galilee, stoking fears among Palestinian citizens.
- 04The Central Elections Committee voted to disqualify Ra'am and the Joint List on September 23, but the Supreme Court overturned the decision; Balad candidate Sami Abu Shehadeh later withdrew after the court signalled it would uphold his disqualification.
- 05Palestinian voter turnout has ranged from roughly 45 to 65 percent over the past five elections; campaign operatives aim for 70 to 75 percent, last achieved in 1999.
02Why it matters
The outcome of this razor-thin election could determine whether a far-right government continues its policies against Palestinians, directly affecting the rights and safety of the one-fifth of Israel's population that is Palestinian.
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