Netanyahu's right is turning anti-Arab incitement into election strategy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies in Israel’s right-wing coalition are escalating anti-Arab rhetoric ahead of the upcoming election, marking a sharp increase in racial incitement against Israeli Arabs. The coordinated campaign—spearheaded by Netanyahu’s Likud party, the Religious Zionism alliance, and the far-right Otzma Yehudit—has drawn widespread criticism for crossing a disturbing threshold in inflammatory language. Observers warn that the surge in divisive political messaging risks deepening social divisions in Israel just months before voters head to the polls.

The anti-Arab incitement has intensified across multiple political fronts. Netanyahu and his Likud party have repeatedly warned of what they describe as the “threat” posed by Arab-Israeli political participation, including claims that opposition parties reliant on Arab support would “endanger” the country. Meanwhile, Religious Zionism, led by Bezalel Smotrich, has framed Arab citizens as a demographic and security challenge, pushing policies that critics argue marginalize Palestinian citizens of Israel. Otzma Yehudit, whose leader Itamar Ben-Gvir has a history of inflammatory statements against Arabs, has amplified these narratives, portraying Arab voters and politicians as existential threats to the Jewish character of the state.

Political analysts note that this campaign represents a strategic shift rather than an isolated incident. Historically, Israeli elections have seen heated rhetoric, but the current wave is distinguished by its scale, coordination, and timing—occurring as Arab political parties gain unprecedented influence in the Knesset. The Joint List and its successor alliances have become kingmakers in coalition talks, prompting Netanyahu and his allies to target Arab voters directly in an attempt to mobilize their base by stoking fear.

Civil society groups and Arab political leaders have condemned the rhetoric as dangerous and dehumanizing. Ayman Odeh, former leader of the Joint List, accused Netanyahu of “weaponizing racism” to distract from domestic failures and maintain power. “This isn’t just political strategy—it’s an assault on democracy,” Odeh said in a public statement. Arab-Israeli lawmaker Aida Touma-Suleiman called the rhetoric “a deliberate campaign to erase our existence as equal citizens.”

Critics argue that the timing of the incitement—amid ongoing tensions in the West Bank, Gaza, and within Israel—exacerbates an already volatile environment. Police and human rights organizations have reported a rise in hate crimes targeting Arab communities in recent months, with some incidents directly linked to inflammatory political statements.

While Netanyahu has framed his strategy as a defense of Israel’s Jewish majority, opponents say it undermines national cohesion and violates the principle of equal citizenship. The election, set for early next year, is increasingly framed not only as a contest over governance but over the very soul of Israeli democracy.

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