Ben-Gvir urges turnout as Arab vote surge raises alarm for Israel’s future
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National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited Arab-majority towns to encourage voting as officials and coalition leaders warned that a reported rise in Palestinian Arab turnout could reshape the election.
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir went door-to-door on Tuesday, urging residents to cast their ballots before polls closed. Accompanied by security staff and campaign aides, he asked voters whether they had already voted and encouraged those who had not to head to polling stations immediately, emphasizing the importance of every vote.
"In Rahat, the turnout percentages are ...," Ben-Gvir told a resident of the predominantly Palestinian Bedouin city, pointing to the notably high level of participation there.
Earlier, he visited the outskirts of Kafr Qasim, a Palestinian-majority town, warning supporters that a strong Arab turnout could increase the political influence of Palestinian politicians Mansour Abbas and Ahmad Tibi. "If you want this country to remain Jewish and Zionist, if you want to keep this state from falling into the hands of Mansour Abbas and Ahmad Tibi, go out and vote," he said, presenting the election as a decisive struggle over the country's identity.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition allies have similarly highlighted the potential impact of Arab voting, sharing images of long queues in Palestinian-majority neighborhoods and urging right-wing voters to turn out in large numbers. The Central Elections Committee reported a 55.7% turnout across Israel during the first nine hours of voting, the fastest pace on record, though it did not break down participation by demographic group.
Palestinian politicians condemned the rhetoric, describing the messages as intimidation. Sami Abu Shehadeh of the Balad party said the queues should inspire "pride and joy" for anyone who believes in democracy. Ahmad Tibi warned that strong Arab participation could lead to an alternative government.
Netanyahu's Likud party sought to extend voting hours, a proposal opposed by the Yashar party, which argued the request could be used to challenge the election's legitimacy. The campaign reflects a pattern of urging right-wing voters by highlighting Arab turnout, a strategy employed in previous elections.
The vote follows Israel's first national election since the October 2023 Hamas attacks and subsequent conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, with opinion polls suggesting the governing coalition could lose its parliamentary majority.