Netanyahu’s Warning on Arab Voter Surge Sparks Accusations of Racism During High-Stakes Israeli Election

JERUSALEM (Reuters) — In a final push to rally supporters ahead of Israel’s election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partners warned of a surge in Arab voter turnout, a tactic that Arab political leaders swiftly condemned as racist and inflammatory.

Witnesses reported vehicles adorned with Likud party flags cruising through the streets of Jerusalem, blaring the Islamic call to prayer and urging citizens to vote, specifically warning that “Arabs are voting.”

On social media, Netanyahu shared images of long lines at polling stations in Arab-majority areas, including women in niqabs waiting to cast their ballots. He warned supporters, “If we don’t wake up now, we’ll find ourselves with a government of Mansour Abbas and Ahmed Tibi,” referencing two prominent Palestinian Arab political figures in Israel.

According to the elections committee, voter turnout reached 55.7% within the first nine hours, marking the fastest pace on record. While Arab citizens of Palestinian heritage constitute approximately 21% of Israel’s 10 million population, they have historically voted at lower rates than Jewish citizens.

Ahmed Tibi, a candidate from an Arab party, argued that robust participation from the Arab minority would “pave the way for an alternative government and change the grave reality.” Meanwhile, Sami Abu Shehadeh, leader of the Arab Balad party, wrote on X that long lines at polling stations should bring “pride and joy to anyone who believed in democracy.” He criticized the warnings from Netanyahu and others, stating, “What are they afraid of? This is actually an excellent sight; it is good for democracy.”

Netanyahu has repeatedly framed high Arab voter turnout as a threat, a strategy he has employed in previous election campaigns to mobilize the right-wing base by portraying strong Arab political participation as a demographic and security risk.

This election is the first since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack and the subsequent conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Over the past four years under Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition, violent crime—including numerous murders linked to organized crime—has surged within Israel’s Arab communities.

Polls indicate that Netanyahu’s coalition is on track to lose its parliamentary majority, though opposition parties may also struggle to assemble the 61 seats required to form a governing coalition.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has overseen policies targeting illegally built Arab homes, described the Arab voter turnout as “crazy,” urging supporters to vote for his Jewish Power party to ensure the country remains Jewish and Zionist. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, meanwhile, has promoted “Judaizing” initiatives in northern and southern regions with significant Arab populations. Both ministers have faced sanctions from Western nations over allegations of inciting violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party noted that the finance minister paused his campaigning to hold an emergency meeting regarding the unexpectedly high Arab voter turnout.

Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, with additional reporting by Steven Scheer and Lina Obeid; editing by Ros Russell.

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