Poll: 78% of Arab Voters Support the Joint List Entering a Coalition

A public opinion poll conducted last Saturday, August 24, revealed that 78% of Arab voters in Israel support the Joint List’s entering a coalition after the September 17 elections.

The poll, conducted by the Statnet Research Institute, a research and survey institute specializing in the Arab sector, included 160 subjects from all Arab-Palestinian communities in Israel: Muslims, Christians and Druze of a variety ages. In response to the question “Do you support or oppose the Joint List entering a coalition?,” 53% said they would support the Joint List entering a moderate-left government; 14% said they would support the Joint list joining a blocking majority; and 11% said they would enter any government coalition.

MK Ayman Odeh (first from left) with Joint List candidates Mtanes Shehadeh, MK Ahmad Tibi and Sammy Abu Shehadeh during a campaign tour in Jaffa during the recent Eid al-Adha festival

MK Ayman Odeh (first from left) with Joint List candidates Mtanes Shehadeh, MK Ahmad Tibi and Sammy Abu Shehadeh during a campaign tour in Jaffa during the recent Eid al-Adha festival (Photo: Zu Haderech)

A large majority (76%) of those surveyed supported Hadash MK Ayman Odeh’s declaration last Friday, August 23, that he would join a moderate-center government; 65% of those asked expressed their full support for the Joint List joining a coalition headed by Kahol-Lavan (Blue & White); and 20% responded they neither support nor oppose the such a move.

Youssef Makladeh, the CEO of Statnet, told Maariv: “This isn’t new; past surveys have indicated that the Arab community in Israel is more interested in more pragmatic leadership that will work towards solving more acute issues, such as curbing the spread of violence, [achieving] building permits [for Arab towns], [developing local] infrastructure and sewage management [for their places of residence].” Makladeh added, “For the first time in a decade, an Arab leader has thrown the ball into the court of the Jewish parties.”

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