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Israel’s Arab parties rue a dismal election result

Turnout low amid anger at Nation State law and delegitimisation of Arab votes

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For Israel’s Arab community it was a dismal election. In 2015, the united Joint List representing its various groupings ushered turnout to 63 per cent and saw it win 13 seats, including the Jewish MK Dov Hanin.

Now a split has seen it fall to six seats for Hadash-Taal and four for Raam-Balad.

Turnout this time was just above 50 per cent — caused in part by anger over the Nation State law but also the delegitimisation of Arab votes during the campaign. This was not just from the right, which was accused of voter intimidation over Likud’s attempt to equip its election observers with hidden cameras, but also by Blue & White, which categorically ruled out a coalition with Arab parties.

It meant that when Arab party leaders met President Reuven Rivlin for consultations, they made clear they would endorse neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Benny Gantz.

The coming months could see shifts in the Knesset, given many Arab voters opted to support Meretz, where Arab politician Esawi Freij became an MK. It raises the prospect of a Jewish-Arab grouping of Meretz, parts of Hadash and even Labour.

Diplomatic events will also have an impact, with Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan and a long-term truce in Gaza both expected in the coming months. Both will almost certainly put the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority on the defensive.

Hadash-Taal is close to the PA, particularly its co-leader Ahmed Tibi, who has long been an unofficial advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He will likely be active in opposing the Trump deal.

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