In Israel election, Palestinian citizens weigh fear against disillusionment

For Laila Atamneh, a 19-year-old Palestinian Israeli from Beit Hanina, voting in Israel's October 27 election represents both a moral duty and a source of frustration. As one of the rare Palestinian Jerusalemites with Israeli citizenship, she sees her vote as a way to give voice to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip who have no say in Israel's government. "I feel like I have to be these people's voice," she said. "Not that one person is really capable of that much – but if this gives them one percent hope, then I will do it."

Yet Atamneh struggles with Hebrew election coverage, feeling excluded from political discussions. Personally, I feel excluded from everything, that we're not even a part of the discussion, she added. "It feels like none of the parties really address our generation of first-time Palestinian voters." Her mixed feelings reflect the complex mood among Palestinian citizens of Israel – about one-fifth of the population – ahead of the election.

Voting in the shadow of genocide

The election occurs amid heightened fears for Palestinian citizens, with many pointing to Israel's genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza since 2023 and accelerating hard-right assaults on Palestinian rights. "This election comes in the context of the genocide and the ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, and the harsh state policies towards Palestinians in Israel," said As'ad Ghanem, a political scientist at the University of Haifa. "Palestinian citizens are really afraid. Their leadership is afraid, and this is real."

Recent events have intensified these fears, including attempts by West Bank settlers to build an illegal outpost near Majd al-Krum in the Galilee and a controversial campaign video by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich showing a Palestinian warning relatives that "the Jews are coming." For many, such incidents signal increasing danger to Palestinian communities and land.

Kingmakers without a seat at the table

Opinion polls suggest neither Netanyahu's far-right bloc nor the self-styled Zionist opposition alliance will win the 61 seats needed to form government, making Arab-led parties potential kingmakers. The Joint List and Ra'am could hold the balance of power, though opposition leaders like Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot have refused to explicitly partner with them.

Despite this potential influence, Palestinian voters face limited choices. Many grapple with whether to vote strategically for parties like Ra'am or the liberal Democrats that might join an anti-Netanyahu coalition, or to vote for the Joint List on principle. "While I can give in to a few things," Atamneh said, "at the end of the day, I have to abide by morals and values I can't let go of that easily. As Palestinians, we have to support Palestinians."

A surge of Palestinian voters

Despite disillusionment, Palestinian voter turnout appears to be increasing. Campaign operatives estimate about 62% of Palestinian citizens plan to vote, aiming for 70-75% turnout – a level last seen in 1999 when it helped PM Ehud Barak defeat Netanyahu. The surge comes after attempts to disqualify Arab parties, which many Palestinians saw as confirmation the system is rigged but also as a reason to mobilize.

Higher turnout could prevent smaller right-wing parties from clearing the 3.25% electoral threshold, potentially shifting the balance of power. "The only day that we have the right to be equal with the Jews," said one campaign operative, "is the day of elections." For many like Hanan, a 36-year-old Palestinian Christian in the Galilee, the decision to vote comes down to practical concerns: "Before ending the occupation," she said, "I want to save my people."