Kfar Qasim voters face pivotal choice in Knesset race

Palestinian citizens of Israel are expected to hold the key to forming the next government after next week's Knesset election. Recent polls suggest that neither Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition nor the Jewish Israeli opposition bloc will secure the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat legislature.

Projections place the Palestinian blocs, comprising the Islamist Ra'am party and the Joint List alliance, between 12 and 15 seats. This community represents approximately 20% of the national population. In Kfar Qasim, residents gathered for evening meetings featuring candidates, traditional pastries, and coffee, reflecting a surge in local engagement ahead of the vote.

Ahmad Tibi, leader of the Ta'al party and a Knesset member for more than two decades, stated that high turnout is a primary tool to remove the current government. He expressed a determination to act decisively to bring the administration down. The Joint List includes three smaller parties, while Ra'am operates as a separate Islamist bloc.

Despite the arithmetic necessity, most opposition parties have historically ruled out governing with Arab politicians. Netanyahu and his allies have campaigned against such alliances, using slogans like "Bibi or Tibi" on posters. Historically, only two Palestinian ministers have served in the cabinet: Raleb Majadele in sport for two years and Issawi Frej in regional coordination for just over a year.

Precedent suggests opposition leaders may abandon previous stances once results are in. In 2021, Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas joined a coalition with Naftali Bennett, who now leads the opposition bloc. Netanyahu had also previously initiated coalition talks with Abbas. A prospective voter in the tech sector noted that the final decision will come down to simple mathematics, urging friends across backgrounds to vote.

The choice for Palestinian leaders remains difficult because most opposition parties do not support a two-state solution and back the West Bank settlement movement. Tibi described the decision as selecting between two unfavorable options: the current far-right ministers or the opposition. He cited Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir as part of the current governing side.

Sami Abu Shehadeh, leader of the Balad party, identified fear as the central motive for voters. Concerns stem from the destruction in Gaza, violence in the West Bank, and rising discrimination inside Israel. He warned that voters understand the risks of another four years under far-right leadership, referring to the current ministers as criminals who may return to power.

Distrust of the political system has historically suppressed turnout. Last month, the supreme court effectively removed Abu Shehadeh from the race over an article regarding the October 7 attacks, a ruling criticized for applying different standards to Jewish and Palestinian citizens. Meanwhile, a motion to disqualify Itamar Ben-Gvir over racist language was not upheld. The election takes place two days before Kfar Qasim marks the 1956 massacre in which 49 residents were killed by border police.