Palestinian citizens of Israel have redrawn the political landscape

Arab News · Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib · 2026-10-29 06:36 UTC

Palestinian citizens of Israel have redrawn the political landscape

Most of the votes are counted in Israel’s parliamentary election and there is no clear winner. It is obvious that neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the main opposition bloc, can obtain the clear majority required to form a government without the support of Arab parties.

For now, what is most clear is that there is no government in Israel. But another significant aspect of this election was the massive turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel. Despite the shift in wider Israeli society to the right, and an increase in racism, Palestinian citizens of Israel are making their mark at the ballot box.

In Rahat, an Arab Bedouin city in the Negev Desert, in the Southern District of Israel, turnout reached 75 percent, a source told me. This was unheard of. It was a statement from the Palestinian citizens of Israel that they have had enough.

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