Story perspectives

Arab Israelis Back Civic Service, Favor Normalization, Yet Prioritize Palestine

5/15/2026

Summary

Arab Citizens Support

A Tel Aviv University survey of 500 Arab citizens found 75.8% support civic service for Arab high-school graduates that excludes security duties.
69.5% favor a Lebanon deal, 67.4% favor Saudi normalization, yet 64.4% say Palestinian issue must be solved first, and 46.4% view a 1967-border two-state solution as realistic outcome.
76.9% feel insecure, 68.3% rate the economy good, and Arab voter turnout is 53% (67% if the Joint List reunites).

Summary

Arab Parties Poll

United Arab List (Ra’am) entered an Israeli coalition in 2021, prompting Mansour Abbas to prioritize socioeconomic integration and crime reduction in communities.
81.7% of Druze expressed strong state affiliation, the highest among minorities.
Poll data show 43.3% say Arab parties should join future coalition, 33.9% would back a center-left government, and that Hadash-Ta’al would win five seats, Ra’am four, and Balad would miss the threshold without a joint Arab list.

History

Historical Context

Ra'am, founded in 1996 and led by Mansour Abbas, broke ground as Israel’s first organized Islamist Arab party with two Knesset seats. Its 2009 disqualification and subsequent Supreme Court reversal highlighted legal hurdles, while the 2024 poll showing 43.3% support for Arab parties in coalition reflects a steady rise from that 1996 breakthrough toward greater influence in Israeli government formation.

1 of 3

Arab Citizens Support

A Tel Aviv University survey of 500 Arab citizens found 75.8% support civic service for Arab high-school graduates that excludes security duties.
69.5% favor a Lebanon deal, 67.4% favor Saudi normalization, yet 64.4% say Palestinian issue must be solved first, and 46.4% view a 1967-border two-state solution as realistic outcome.
76.9% feel insecure, 68.3% rate the economy good, and Arab voter turnout is 53% (67% if the Joint List reunites).

1 / 3