Joint Arab List accuses Likud of trying to undermine election results by inciting against Arab voters

The Joint Arab List accused Likud on Thursday of trying to undermine the election results through incitement against Arab voters and attempts to delegitimise their political representation.

In a statement, the list said a campaign led by Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition reflects their fear of Arab voters’ political strength and their inability to accept their unprecedentedly high turnout, which it said helped prevent Netanyahu’s bloc from securing the 61 seats needed to form a government.

The list said Arab voters turned out in response to the government’s policies of war, demolition, displacement and incitement, as well as its failure to curb rising crime in Arab towns.

It said attempts to question Arab voters’ participation are part of an organised campaign that began months before the election, including efforts to disqualify Arab electoral lists and intimidate voters. The campaign is now continuing through what the list described as false accusations targeting Arab votes and their electoral gains.

The list called on opposition leaders to stop echoing Netanyahu’s claims and the rhetoric of the racist Kahanist movement.

“Those who want to change this government cannot adopt its incitement against the very people who turned out to bring it down,” it said.

It called for respect for voters’ choices, action against incitement and a genuine alternative to the government’s policies that uphold Palestinian rights and demands.