‘Arab voice doesn’t count’: Jewish Israeli blocs reject Palestinian support

Turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel rose sharply in the parliamentary election, with an estimated 80 percent of eligible voters casting ballots. Ra’am and the Joint List won a combined 19 seats in the 120-member parliament, potentially giving them a decisive role in forming the next government. Neither rival bloc has a majority, while leading Israeli politicians have challenged or delegitimised the Palestinian vote, blaming foreign interference or portraying it as an attempt to “steal the election.”