Diaspora & WorldIsrael
Israel votes in an election seen as a referendum on Netanyahu, with Arab voters pivotal
Arab turnout has traditionally lagged, but some voters say casting a ballot feels more of a duty than ever. Trump has twice urged Israelis to back Netanyahu.
Israelis vote on 27 October in an election framed as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu, and France 24 reports that turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel could decide the outcome.
France 24 reported that Arab Israeli votes could be crucial to Netanyahu's fate, and that some Arab citizens now see voting as an obligation because of his policies and wars.
Trump endorsed Netanyahu ahead of the vote and, on 26 October, urged Israelis to vote for him so the two could finish the job, The Times of Israel reported.
Netanyahu's main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, has pledged to unite the country. Opponents accuse Netanyahu of stoking tension with Iran before the vote, which his office denies.
Most Palestinians in East Jerusalem, who hold residency rather than citizenship, cannot vote.
Voiceslayer 1
It's Israel's democracy and Israel's constitution, and that's what counts for me.Isaac Herzog, Israeli president · The Times of Israel
What nextlayer 2
Tue 27 Oct
Polls open across Israel; all West Bank land crossings are closed for the day.
Source: France 24
Sources
- France 24, 26 Oct 2026
- The Times of Israel (live blog), 26 Oct 2026
Every figure and quote above links to where it was published. Something wrong? Corrections.
