Yair Netanyahu Claims Israeli Arabs Are a Greater Threat Than Iran

Yair Netanyahu declared on Friday that the 26th Knesset election results revealed a fundamental weakness in the state. Posting on his X account, the son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the Arab population as the primary internal risk. He stated that these elections proved the greatest danger to Israel's survival, aside from the Iranian nuclear program, is the group he labeled "Israeli Arabs."

Yair Netanyahu ranked this threat above the risks posed by Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, Turkey, and Western antisemitism. He argued that a nation cannot endure long term when one fifth of its population identifies with its enemies. "A country cannot survive long-term when 20% of its population identifies with its enemies and wants its destruction," he wrote. He drew a parallel to France, claiming the country is collapsing due to its Muslim population. He described Islam as a political ideology unwilling to coexist peacefully with "infidel" neighbors, adding that Jews, Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus can be good neighbors, but most Muslims cannot.

MK Ahmad Tibi reacted sharply to the comments. He referred to Yair Netanyahu as "the bum from Miami" and called the statement a typical racist and antisemitic remark. Tibi noted that Arabs in Israel work for a dignified living while Yair Netanyahu tweets from his residence in Florida. "He can be racist and uncouth, and we will continue to look after a future of cooperation and equal rights in our beloved country, and work to change the grim reality that Netanyahu senior created," Tibi said. He pledged that if a second round of voting occurs, Arab turnout will be greater and more determined.

Public relations consultant Rani Rahav addressed the Prime Minister directly regarding the comments. He reminded Benjamin Netanyahu of similar remarks made in 2016, when the Prime Minister said Arab voters were "flocking to the polls in droves." Rahav attached a video of that 2016 statement, where Benjamin Netanyahu apologized for how his words were understood. In that footage, the Prime Minister expressed a vision of Arab boys and girls growing up safely with equal rights. Rahav asked, "So what happened?" in a string of question marks.

The post appeared as authorities investigated suspected foreign meddling in the Knesset elections. The Mossad confirmed it joined the inquiry into intelligence findings regarding the matter. It will assist the Shin Bet in its areas of responsibility. Investigators are looking into whether Qatar facilitated payments to the Joint List's apparatus. Officials said the suspicions are not expected to change the election results. Adv. Dean Livne, the acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, stated that the investigation began after classified intelligence was presented to Justice Noam Sohlberg. He emphasized the probe is not focused on any specific sector.

A separate police investigation continues into suspected election bribery among Ra'am activists. Seven suspects have been arrested in that case. Likud claimed the elections were stolen through criminal offenses at polling stations in Arab society, including bribery, intimidation, and fraud. The party said it transferred materials to the police, the Shin Bet, and the Central Elections Committee. Police clarified that the bribery probe and the foreign interference inquiry are distinct matters.

Talal al-Krenawi, the mayor of Rahat, rejected Likud's claims of fraud. He called the allegations a total lie and incitement against the Bedouins. "We voted for the first time in history truly, with ID cards. I have never seen cleaner elections than these," al-Krenawi said. He questioned why exercising a democratic right would count as stealing the election. "If they don't want to let us vote, let them just say so," he added.