Rahat’s near-80% turnout in Israel’s Oct. 27 election featured in Likud activists’ criticism of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whom they said hurt the right-wing bloc’s electoral prospects.
The Jerusalem Post put Rahat’s turnout at 60.6% in the previous election and nearly 80% on Oct. 27.
Likud activists argued that Ben-Gvir’s approach helped mobilize Arab voters and strengthen Arab parties, putting the right-wing bloc’s chances under pressure, the newspaper reported. Some residents also blamed his demolition policy and public statements. A supporter disputed the activists’ account and defended Ben-Gvir’s law-enforcement approach.
One veteran Likud activist said the party had received some Bedouin votes in the area in past elections, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Israel’s Central Elections Committee (CEC) put Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats and Arab party groupings at 19. The Knesset has 120 seats, with 61 required for a majority, leaving Netanyahu’s bloc eight seats short. EconoTimes’ earlier account of the official count also reported the tally.
