A majority of young Arab Israelis would consider voting for non-Arab parties in next week’s Knesset elections if they offered clear plans to address issues affecting their communities, with crime a top concern.
The findings came from a survey of members of the minority group aged 18 to 26.
Sixty per cent said they would consider supporting a non-Arab party if it presented concrete proposals on issues important to them.
Only 48 per cent said they were exclusively loyal to Arab parties, while about 20 per cent expressed no preference based on a party’s identity.
Violence and crime emerged as the leading concern, cited by 55 per cent of respondents as a priority when deciding how to vote.
Employment and income opportunities came second, at 22 per cent, followed by investment in education and higher education, at 20 per cent, and housing solutions, at 19 per cent.
The findings come amid growing concern over violent crime in Arab communities, where armed gangs have contributed to widespread insecurity.
Seventy per cent of respondents said political parties did not listen sufficiently to young people in Arab society.
The poll conducted by Israeli consulting firm Dialog in August for the Arab-Jewish Center for Empowerment, Equality and Cooperation (AJEEC-NISPED) surveyed 257 Arab Israelis.
“This survey should be a wake-up call for the entire political establishment,” said Suleiman al-Amour, AJEEC’s chief executive, calling for practical plans with clear goals, budgets and accountability to tackle crime and violence.
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