# Which Palestinians Can Vote in Israeli Elections

- Original post: https://www.twitter.com/i/status/2116254433709535505
- Source account: [@NadineDMoraleja](https://x.com/NadineDMoraleja)
- Source language: English
- Duration: 2:22
- Published: 2026-10-30
- Canonical URL: https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections

## Transcript

[0:00](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections) Palestinians are watching the outcome of the elections here in Israel very closely, but they have very little influence over the electoral process themselves because most Palestinians do not have the right to vote. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, roughly four million of them, live under occupation.

[0:18](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=18) They are not Israeli citizens, and they do not have the right to cast ballots. Similarly, Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem, they have a special ID card that gives them more rights than Palestinians who live in the West Bank and Gaza,

[0:32](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=32) but not full citizenship, and they are also excluded from the elections.

[0:36](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=36) So which Palestinians can vote? Only Palestinians who are also Israeli citizens.

[0:42](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=42) There are roughly 10 million Israeli citizens.

[0:44](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=44) Palestinian Israelis are about 20% of that population, so about tw- two million people, and they tend to vote for other Arab parties that defend Arab communities, defend Palestinian rights.

[0:58](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=58) And it could be that these Palestinian parties become very influential in the horse trading and the deal making that will happen after the elections to put together a, uh, a government in this country. But Palestinians mostly are watching from the sidelines, excluded from the political process,

[1:18](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=78) even though the outcome of this election could directly impact their lives and directly impact the pace of military operations in the West Bank and Gaza, and how much power is given to extremist settler groups.

[1:34](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=94) Prime Minister Netanyahu is in a coalition with settlers.

[1:38](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=98) He has allowed them to, uh, attack Palestinian farms, attack, uh, journalists attempting to report on, uh, Palestinians being evicted from their homes, and has taken very few actions to rein in the extremist settlers.

[1:53](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=113) Netanyahu's main rival, the retired general Gadi Eizenkot, said that he will do more to hold Jewish settlers accountable.

[2:00](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=120) And while there are huge personal and political differences between Netanyahu and Eizenkot, neither one of them supports a Palestinian state.

[2:08](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=128) In fact, both have said they oppose Palestinian statehood.

[2:11](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=131) So Palestinians are very much a part of this election, but they are not participating generally in the electoral process.

[2:19](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xjHXjZth6ZDm/en/which-palestinians-can-vote-in-israeli-elections?t=139) They're excluded from it.