Israeli lawmaker and Ra'am party leader Mansour Abbas
\n\nArab Israeli voters are turning out in large numbers in Israel’s 2026 election, potentially emerging as a decisive force in a closely contested race against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The surge has prompted Netanyahu and other right-wing leaders to urge their supporters to vote, while warning that increased turnout in Arab communities could help a left-wing government take power.
\n\nThe Ra’am campaign reported that turnout among Arab voters had reached 60% by 7 PM. The campaign said turnout would need to reach at least 73% for Netanyahu to be replaced. In the 2022 elections, Arab voter turnout stood at 55%.
\n\nOverall voter turnout has increased by nine percentage points, with half of that increase attributed to Arab voters, who account for approximately 17% to 18% of the population, according to the figures provided. The turnout is being described as historic, reaching levels not seen since the closely contested Netanyahu–Peres election of 1996.
\n\nArab Voter Surge Could Prove Decisive
\n\nTurnout figures recorded at 6 PM showed substantial participation across several Arab-majority cities. Rahat recorded 72.2%, followed by Tayibe at 62.7%, Shefa-Amr at 62.3%, Nazareth at 58.4% and Umm al-Fahm at 56.1%.
\n\nIn mixed…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/latest-news
