Israel’s Arab citizens, who make up about 20% of the population, have historically participated in elections at lower rates than Jewish Israelis. In the 2022 election, Arab voter turnout reached just 53.2%, compared with roughly 75% among Jewish voters, a gap widely seen as contributing to Netanyahu’s return to power. He argued the party is targeting non-voters rather than taking support away from existing Arab parties. Many Arab citizens have long complained about discrimination, underfunded communities, and rising violent crime, concerns they believe have worsened under the current government. Netanyahu has also faced criticism over past election rhetoric involving Arab voters, while his rivals accuse his coalition of deepening divisions.