Joint Arab List: Voting is a response to Netanyahu government

The Joint Arab List announced on Wednesday that the Arab public in Israel had responded to the policies of the Benjamin Netanyahu government through broad participation at polling stations, considering this turnout transformed election day into a widespread popular demonstration against what it described as fascists. The list affirmed its readiness to cooperate with opposition forces to form an alternative government and topple Netanyahu's government, provided the opposition camp offers a genuine political alternative and rejects the exclusion of the Arab public and its representatives.

The list stated in a declaration that Arab crowds recognized the gravity of the stage and flocked to polling stations in cities and villages from the Galilee, the Triangle, and the Negev, rejecting incitement and intimidation attempts with collective will. It expressed gratitude to voters who bestowed trust upon it, noting that this trust carries a message of the public's commitment to unity and a discourse that safeguards fundamentals and does not compromise on rights. It also thanked activists and voters from democratic Jewish forces who moved against the racist current.

According to available data, the broad participation contributed to keeping Netanyahu and his camp below the majority needed to form a governing coalition, which stands at 61 seats out of 120 in the Knesset. The list affirmed it would use the power granted by voters to work on preventing the return of Netanyahu's government, expressing readiness to pave the way for an alternative government provided commitments are made to the demands and rights of the Arab public.

According to partial results broadcast by Channel 12 after 88.6 percent of votes were counted, Netanyahu's camp secured 53 seats compared to 48 for the opposition led by Eizenkot, and 19 for Arab parties, with 12 for the Joint Arab List and 7 for the United Arab List. The process of counting sealed envelopes, expected to range between 430,000 and 480,000 votes, is scheduled to continue on Thursday morning, while the Elections Committee announced that the voting turnout reached 77.7 percent, the highest since 1999.

Source: Anadolu Agency