Arab Israeli

People were passionate about politics. Around 4,300 people voted in Abu Ghosh, which is 78 percent of the population. In Gilo, around 15,000 people voted, or 65-70 percent.

Arab citizens cannot be approached as potential partners only when their votes become necessary, while the harder conversation about their place in the country is postponed until another election.

On Wednesday, Likud accused Arab parties of allegedly stealing Israel's 2026 Knesset election through widespread electoral fraud, bribery, intimidation, and ballot manipulation.

With neither bloc securing a clear majority, Netanyahu, Bennett and Golan each claimed victory by defining the electorate differently, exposing divisions over who counts.

Arab political power reveals a country more complicated than its slogans, with consequential choices for the parties on both sides of the coalition table.

The projections would give the two parties combined either 18 or 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset, compared with their five seats each in the outgoing parliament.

The memory of October 2000 has not faded, but it has been overtaken by the reality of the past four years, under a government that has done far more than neglect Arab citizens.

Likud, People of Israel, Shas, and Otzma Yehudit have called for extended voting hours, though only CEC Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg can decide to extend voting hours.

The party is concerned about the mobilization of the camp opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the difficulty of generating enthusiasm among some right-wing voters.

Also in Rahat, masked individuals riding on horses and camels through the city were reportedly seen waving political flags and playing loud music.