Regional Media Assess Arab Vote Power in Tuesday's Israeli Election

Regional media outlets across the Middle East are focusing on the potential impact of Arab voters in Israel's upcoming election. With neither major political bloc holding a guaranteed majority, analysts are scrutinizing the roles of the Joint List and Mansour Abbas's Ra'am party. These groups could determine which coalition forms the next government.

Hadash politician Shadi Shweiri told Egyptian broadcaster Alghad TV on Sunday that Arab citizens have a unique opportunity to advance their demands through the ballot. He described the choice as being between the bad and the worse. Shweiri argued that the right to vote was secured through international pressure and a condition for Israel's United Nations membership in 1948, rather than an act of goodwill by the state.

In Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said at a Monday press conference that the election outcome makes no difference to Iran. He criticized the candidates as competing gangs trying to commit more evil. However, Iranian state-affiliated media, including Tasnim News Agency, continue to report on polls measuring Likud's chances of winning.

Qatar's Fadaat Media, which owns the London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, published an analysis on Monday warning of a potential political stalemate. The piece suggested Netanyahu could remain in a caretaker role if no clear winner emerges. Journalist Beirut Hammoud noted that opposition politicians differ from the prime minister mainly in their methods of managing the conflict.

Lebanon's pro-Hezbollah outlet Al-Khanadeq claimed Netanyahu is portraying the Arab vote as a liability to weaken his rivals. The analysis cited AI-generated campaign material showing Gadi Eisenkot alongside Mansour Abbas. It argued this strategy targets the soft right and raises the cost of forming a government based on Arab partnership.

The outlet also reported that the Central Elections Committee is attempting to disqualify Arab-majority parties. It noted the deployment of 2,000 activists to deter Arab citizens from voting. Al-Khanadeq described these moves as evidence of an effort to evade the consequences of the electoral process.

Dr. Ahmed Youseff, a former adviser to Ismail Haniyeh, wrote for the Palestinian news site Al Quds that the election timing aligns with United States midterm elections. He argued that an Eisenkot victory could reopen diplomatic efforts and force accountability for security failures. Youseff stated that the true value of the vote will be measured by whether it leads to policy changes that curb war and restore rights.