Joint List supporters celebrate projected Arab-list gains as party chief says they sent Ben-Gvir “home”

Supporters of Israel’s Joint List celebrated in Nazareth on Tuesday after exit polls projected a strong result for Arab political lists, with party head Yousef Jabareen declaring they had sent National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir “home.”

Exit polls from Israel’s main television channels projected that the two Arab lists would win 17–18 seats combined in the 120-member parliament, up from 10 seats in the 2022 election. Channel 12’s projections gave Ra’am seven seats and the Joint List 11, The Jerusalem Post reported.

A Joint List supporter was filmed waving a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian garment described as symbolizing resilience, identity and heritage in the face of repeated human rights abuses by Israel.

Arab Israelis are Israeli citizens of Palestinian heritage and make up a fifth of the population, but have historically voted at lower rates than Jewish Israelis. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch say they face systemic discrimination in Israel and live under an apartheid system.