Joint List: Likud Trying to Sidestep Election Results Through Incitement and Delegitimization of Our Political Representation

The Joint List affirmed in a statement on Thursday afternoon that "the incitement campaign led by Netanyahu and his fascist coalition against the vote of the Arab masses reveals their fear of its political power, and their inability to accept its broad and unprecedented participation in the elections and the imposition of its presence and influential role, which formed a solid barrier preventing Netanyahu's camp from reaching the 61-seat threshold and forming a new fascist government."

It said: "The masses of our people came out to vote in response to the crimes of Netanyahu's government and Ben Gvir and Smotrich, and to the policies of war, demolition, displacement and incitement, and of leaving crime to fester in our towns. They came out because they believed in their power and their ability, and refused to remain bystanders to the targeting of them and the stripping of their rights. They turned election day into a broad popular demonstration that carried a clear message: we are here, we have rights, and we have a voice and a will that no one can cancel."

The Joint List noted: "We are not required to justify our political participation, nor do we need a certificate of legitimacy from those who want to exclude us. Those who wanted us weak and marginalized found before them a public that believes in itself, holds fast to its rights and takes the initiative."

It pointed out that "casting doubt on the vote of our masses is not a passing event, but an extension of an organized campaign that began months before the elections, aimed at delegitimizing Arab political participation and paving the way for contesting the results when they do not serve Netanyahu and his partners."

The Joint List explained: "This campaign began with incitement and attempts to disqualify the Arab lists, continued with attempts to intimidate voters on polling day, and continues today with false accusations targeting our votes and the historic achievement made by our masses."

It called on the leaders of the opposition camp to stop parroting the lies of Netanyahu and the racist Kahanists, and to stop reproducing their discourse and acting according to the dictates they impose. "Whoever wants to change this government cannot adopt its incitement against the masses that came out to bring it down."

The Joint List concluded its statement by saying: "What is required now is political courage translated into action: respecting the will of the voters, confronting incitement, and opening the way for a real alternative to the government's policies, committed to the rights and demands of our people, as we proposed throughout our election campaign."