Palestinian citizens make their vote count in Israel

The Palestinian citizens of Israel made their voices heard in a recent national election, casting their ballots in record numbers and giving two Arab-led parties their largest-ever share of seats in the country's parliament. This surge in voting marks a rare political triumph for the Palestinian community, who have long felt marginalized in the nation's government.

Many Palestinian citizens had previously abstained from voting, believing their communities were being neglected or demonized. However, in recent years, they have increasingly turned to the ballot box to fight against the most right-wing government in Israel's history. The leader of the Ra'am party, Mansour Abbas, declared, "We are here and we're not on the sidelines," as supporters cheered in a wedding hall after the exit polls.

The surge in voting power gives the Palestinian-led parties a significant political influence that could help opposition factions form a coalition government and potentially remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, it remains to be seen whether Netanyahu's main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, and other opponents will align with the Palestinian parties.

Netanyahu and his allies have intensified their anti-Arab rhetoric, accusing opposition parties of forming a coalition with the Palestinian parties, which they claim would lead to the Islamization of Israel.

The surge in voting power for Palestinian-led parties is largely attributed to the deep-seated grievances of the Palestinian community. More than 800,000 people voted for the Ra'am and the Joint List, a coalition of three Arab-led parties, a more than 60% increase from the 2022 elections. The parties won 19 seats in Israel's 120-member Knesset, surpassing the previous record of 15. In Arab communities across the country, turnout nearly doubled, with the northern town of Sakhnin recording the highest voter turnout at 87%.

The parties worked to overcome past reluctance to vote among Palestinians by holding community meetings, door-to-door campaigns, and encouraging women to vote. This heightened participation reflects a desperate attempt to unseat Netanyahu, who is accused of being responsible for the most extreme policies and anti-Arab incitement.

The parties offer different visions for addressing the broader conflict, with Ra'am focusing on coalition government and potential Jewish allies, while the Joint List calls Israel's campaign in Gaza a genocide and compares the occupation to apartheid South Africa.

Despite the strong showing of Palestinian-led parties, it is unlikely they will secure a role in the government, as mainstream Israeli parties have long resisted partnering with them, viewing them as threats to Israel's Jewish character or questioning their loyalty to the state.