Israel's Arab minority sees election as existential
After boycotting Israeli parliamentary elections his entire life, 55-year-old Said Kabat will head to the polls for the first time on Oct 27. For him, the vote is existential — if a right-wing government is returned to power, he fears for the future of Israel’s Arab minority, to which he belongs.
For the first time in his life, 55-year-old Said Kabat is set to vote in Israel's parliamentary elections on October 27. As a member of Israel's Arab minority, Kabat fears that a right-wing government could jeopardize the future of his community. With Arab Israelis comprising about 21% of the country's population, they have long complained of discrimination compared to Israel's Jewish majority.
In recent months, settlement construction in the occupied West Bank has intensified, with a focus on Arab areas within Israel. The close election is prompting calls for Arab Israelis to mobilize and cast their votes. In the 2022 election, turnout among Arab and Druze voters was around 53%. Activists in Kabat's village of Majd al-Krum are urging everyone to participate in the electoral process, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
