Full Breakdown
Historic Arab Turnout Boosts Seats for Ra'am and Joint List in Israel’s Knesset
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In this breakdown
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Record Turnout Elevates Arab Parties in the Knesset
Nearly 840,000 Palestinian citizens of Israel voted for the Ra'am party and the Joint List, a 64 % increase from the 2022 election, according to the Central Election Committee. The bloc secured 19 of the 120 Knesset seats, surpassing its previous high of 15. Turnout was especially high in Arab localities, with Sakhnin reaching an 87 % participation rate and the Bedouin village of Tarabin reporting a 93 % vote share for Ra'am.
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Background and Political Context
The surge follows years of low Arab voter participation, which many attributed to marginalization and anti-Arab rhetoric from the right-wing government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have pursued policies that critics say incite violence against Arab citizens.
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Key Figures
- Mazen Ghnaim – Mayor of Sakhnin, emphasized protecting constituents from attacks.
- Sami Abou Shehadeh – Leader of a Joint List party, warned of “genocide” versus “apartheid” narratives.
- Yousef Jabareen – Joint List leader, pledged to work toward removing the “fascist government.”
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Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Netanyahu warned on X that any coalition with Arab parties would lead to the “Islamization of Israel.” Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has signaled willingness to consider a partnership but insists Arab parties must affirm Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and label Hamas a terrorist organization. Ra’am’s Abbas said his party is “confident” it will join a government, while Jabareen indicated readiness for talks that would secure protections and equality for Palestinian citizens.
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Verbatim Quotes
- “We are here and we're not on the sidelines,” — Mansour Abbas
- “I want to protect my constituents from being killed, my children from being attacked at their universities and Arab doctors getting attacked at hospitals,” — Mazen Ghnaim, mayor
- “People are clever enough to see what's happening. Of the two options, one is proposing a genocide, and the other is proposing apartheid. These are the choices: bad or worse,” — Sami Abou Shehadeh
- “We have promised our community to do our best to get rid of this fascist government,” — Yousef Jabareen