Netanyahu revives 'the Arabs are flocking' warning- but will high turnout reshape the electoral map?

Voter turnout in Arab communities has climbed throughout election day, with busy polling stations and activists working to bring more people out to vote before the polls close.

For Arab parties competing for seats in the next Knesset, the turnout offers an opportunity to increase their political strength. Campaigners have continued to encourage voters throughout the day, even as polling stations fill and the activity spills onto the streets.

In Lod, cars drove through the streets in convoys, with supporters honking their horns and waving flags. Activists said the celebrations reflected a sense that Arab citizens were turning out in large numbers.

Turnout in Arab communities has been a major factor in determining the representation of Arab parties in recent election cycles. The question now is whether the participation seen throughout the day will translate into additional seats and change the electoral map.

The increase also prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to revive a phrase he used more than a decade ago, when he warned that “the Arabs are flocking to the polls.” This time, reports from polling stations indicated that turnout in Arab communities had risen throughout the day.

Arab parties, meanwhile, continued their efforts to mobilize voters in the final hours of voting, hoping the momentum would be reflected in the results.