Kabul, Israel
|
Oct. 21, 2026, 1:13 p.m. ET
|
5 min read
In Kabul, an Arab town in northern Israel, residents face a pressing concern: escalating violence. “It’s dangerous to come home at night, to go out at night,” says Najwan Taha, a youth group worker in the town of approximately 13,000 people. The community has experienced multiple homicides this year, while organized-crime groups demand protection payments known locally as khawa. Israel Police presence in the area remains minimal.
Arab citizens across Israel report feeling abandoned by authorities, as violent crime in their communities garners little governmental attention. Polls indicate this issue—their top priority—has consistently driven Arab voters to the polls ahead of the October 27 election.
Ilan Ben Zion
Farah Ayashe and Rama Murad, members of the Betna youth group, distribute election flyers in Kabul, Israel, on October 18, 2026.
Evening efforts to boost turnout include Najwan Taha and volunteers handing out flyers and air fresheners at the town’s entrance, urging passersby to vote. One Arabic flyer states: “We can change the rules of the political game if we all vote.”
This grassroots effort aligns with nationwide campaigns by Arab civil society groups under the Coalition 2026 banner. Prominent billboards in Arab-majority areas, such as a towering three-story display in Haifa’s Wadi Nisnas neighborhood, emphasize the stakes in Arabic: “It hinges on your vote.” Arab citizens, representing nearly 22% of Israel’s population, have historically lagged in voter participation, with only 54% turnout in 2022 compared to over 70% nationally.
Ilan Ben Zion
A billboard in Haifa, Israel, reads “It hinges on your vote” in Arabic, encouraging participation in the upcoming elections on October 7, 2026.
Voter disengagement stems from repeated elections between 2019 and 2022, alongside deep mistrust in the political system. “Many lack confidence that political power translates to tangible benefits,” explains As’ad Ghanem, a political science professor at the University of Haifa. Historically, Arab parties have been excluded from governing coalitions due to exclusionary practices by Jewish parties, with only the left-leaning Democrats extending support in this cycle.
Candidate fragmentation in prior elections further reduced turnout, exemplified by the nationalist party Balad’s failure to secure parliamentary seats in 2022. Current factors galvanizing Arab voters include crime, forced home demolitions, underfunded infrastructure, West Bank instability, and Gaza conflicts. Many aim to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his alliance of religious ultranationalists.
Jess Flom/JNA Press/Nexpher Images/Sipa USA/AP
Arab residents and activists protest for stronger crime prevention measures in Lod, Israel.
Netanyahu’s coalition has promoted policies criticized as racist, including campaign posters with the slogan “Right, or Palestine” juxtaposing Jewish and Arab candidates. “The time has come for change—otherwise, we might all face worse governance,” says Firas Khawaled, a Betna manager. Concerns include systemic neglect of Arab communities and discriminatory resource allocation.
Banners advertising Islamist Ra’am and the Joint List—a coalition of three Arab parties—now populate streets nationwide. Polling suggests these lists could secure 13 of 120 Knesset seats. With neither Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc nor his Jewish opponents poised to claim an outright majority, Arab parties may determine government formation. Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen emphasizes demands for policy alternatives addressing Palestinian statehood, crime, youth investment, and development in Arab towns.
For these demands to materialize, high voter turnout is essential. Activists like Reem Hasan of the Joint List work tirelessly to persuade undecided voters. “People have been silenced for so long—and this is the only right they can practice equally,” she notes, referencing Communist Party headquarters adorned with slogans like “Workers of the world unite!” and “Arabs and Jews against fascism.”
Party projections estimate turnout could exceed 60%, with organizers targeting 70% participation to convert longstanding grievances into political influence.
