Arab parties could win 18 seats in Israeli elections, exit polls suggest

What the report says

Arab-led parties in Israel were projected to win 18 seats in the 120-member Knesset after Tuesday’s election, according to exit polls reported by Al Jazeera and Reuters. The result would mark a record showing for the Joint List and Ra’am, helped by unusually high participation among Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up about 21 percent of the population.

Early reporting pointed to turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel at around 80 percent, the highest level in decades and above the countrywide turnout of 77.7 percent, the Central Elections Committee said. Al Jazeera reported that the figure would break a longstanding participation record dating back to 1999. The outlet said the rise in turnout drew attention because Arab voters have historically participated at lower rates than Jewish Israelis.

The election appeared closely balanced between the main political blocs. Updated exit polls suggested a tie at 51 seats each between the bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party and the bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud. Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas said his party hoped the final tally would help produce a government, while also noting that both major camps had sought its support.

The report also described a tense campaign atmosphere, with Netanyahu and allies warning about Arab turnout, a message Arab politicians criticized as inflammatory. Al Jazeera said the outcome could complicate coalition talks because some Jewish-led parties had ruled out partnering with Arab parties during the campaign.