Former Arab-Israeli Knesset member Hanna Swaid says anger towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition is driving high voter turnout among Arab citizens.
Swaid, an Arab-Israeli Christian from the Galilee, told the Associated Press that voters were seeking to remove far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from power.
“Palestinian citizens want to change things and kick out the extremist ministers,” he said.
“The only way to do that in a democratic state – as far as you can still call Israel that – is elections.”
His comments come as Netanyahu continues to warn supporters about high turnout in Arab communities, urging right-wing voters to head to the polls.
Voters in southern Israel’s Arava region say they are unable to reach polling stations after heavy rainfall caused flooding and road closures.
Route 90 has been closed in both directions following storms across the region, leaving some residents concerned they will be unable to cast their ballots.
Polling stations in smaller communities close at 8pm, two hours earlier than most polling stations nationwide.
One resident told Ynet that the Central Elections Committee had yet to respond to concerns about voters being unable to reach the polls before they close.
Another divisive video on social media, channelled by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, targeting Arab Israeli voters.
This time, the video featured prominent Arab-Israeli news anchor Lucy Aharish, who sparked a political storm in February after declaring that Arab citizens would turn out to vote “in droves, inshallah” – echoing Netanyahu’s infamous 2015 election-day warning. Her remarks provoked a fierce backlash from the far Right, including racist abuse, death threats and repeated protests outside her home.
Voter turnout in Israel’s general election has reached 66.7 percent as of 6pm, the highest level ever recorded at this stage of polling.
The figure is nine percentage points higher than the 57.7 percent recorded at the same time during the 2022 election.
The record turnout comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and its allies push for voting hours to be extended beyond 10pm, a move opposed by Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party.
Parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition are stepping up efforts to get supporters to vote in the final hours of Israel’s election.
Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have coordinated efforts to boost turnout and are expected to hold an emergency meeting with dozens of local authority leaders, according to Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party.
Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has been going door to door in Bat Yam, urging residents to vote.
The push comes amid concerns within the coalition about high turnout in Arab communities and left-wing areas, with polling stations due to close at 10pm.
Voter turnout among Israeli soldiers has reached 68 percent as of 5pm, compared with 65 percent at the same point in the 2022 election, according to the IDF.
The military has set up 850 polling stations at bases across Israel and beyond its borders, including army posts in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.
Voting among soldiers began a week ago to allow those serving in different locations to cast their ballots.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has defended his criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government while declining to say who he would support in Israel’s election.
Asked by Channel 4 News whether peace would be more likely without Netanyahu in power, Streeting said: “That’s for the people of Israel to decide. Our job is to work with whoever the Israeli people elect.”
He added: “As a politician, it’s tempting to speculate – perhaps you can guess how I’d vote if I were an Israeli citizen – but I’m not.”
Streeting also stood by his previous warning that Netanyahu’s policies in Gaza were pushing Israel towards “pariah status”, saying: “I stand by those comments.”
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued another election-day warning about Arab voter turnout, urging his supporters to head to the polls.
In a video shared on social media, Arab Israelis, apparently from Bedouin communities, can be seen riding horses and camels and travelling in cars in what appears to be an impromptu parade.
Text over the footage reads: “They’re racing to bring down the Right!”
The accompanying caption says: “They’re already celebrating in the strongholds of the Joint List and Ra’am. We must stop them! Get out and vote Likud!”
The message follows earlier claims by Netanyahu that Arab voters were “trying to steal the election”, prompting accusations of incitement from Arab party leaders.
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