Politics · Italy · 9 hrs ago
Israeli-Palestinian voters in Haifa expect a higher turnout
In Haifa, Palestinian citizens of Israel are preparing to vote in the country’s election on October 27.
Turnout in Arab communities could reach 70%, up from a usual level below 55%.
Many want Benjamin Netanyahu out of office and Itamar Ben-Gvir removed as police minister.
Voters are focused on crime, Gaza and the occupation, and discrimination, including demolitions of Palestinian homes.
The Joint List and the conservative Islamist party Ra’am are competing for these voters.
Palestinian citizens have voting rights but have remained outside government, and some residents doubt the next Knesset will give them a genuine voice.
Voters in Haifa’s Palestinian community are expected to turn out in much larger numbers for Israel’s October 27 election.
Some local observers expect turnout among Arab voters to reach 70% or more, compared with a usual level of no more than 55%.
Voters are described as seeking to remove Benjamin Netanyahu from power and Itamar Ben-Gvir from the police ministry.
Their concerns include organized crime, the war in Gaza, the occupation, social discrimination and home demolitions.
The Joint List and Ra’am are among the parties seeking support from Arab voters.
- Who
- Palestinian voters in Haifa and other Arab communities in Israel.
- What
- They are expected to vote in larger numbers in Israel’s election. Some aim to vote against Benjamin Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir.
- When
- October 27; the article was published the day before.
- Where
- Haifa, Israel, with discussion of Arab communities across the country.
- Why
- Voters are concerned about the government, organized crime, the war in Gaza, occupation, discrimination and home demolitions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Joint List activists in Haifa prepared voter lists and campaign leaflets for their final canvassing.
Israel’s election was scheduled, with local observers expecting Arab voter turnout to reach 70% or more.
- Expected Arab turnout
- 70% or more
- Usual Arab turnout
- No more than 55%
- Palestinian citizens eligible to vote
- 1.2 million
- Haifa left-wing parties’ share in the previous election
- Nearly 60% combined
- Joint List parties’ share in Haifa
- More than 10%
What people are saying
This time turnout will be very high, we have to get our message across as much as possible
The community will turn out in force, even if it is not convinced by the platforms and the parties
Voters want to get rid of Netanyahu, but even more they want to remove Itamar Ben-Gvir from the police ministry, given the violence he has fomented