Strategic adviser Barak Seri offered a sharp analysis of the emerging election results Wednesday, after more than 70% of votes had been counted. According to Seri, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu succeeded in drawing voters from other right-wing parties through messaging against the Arab parties, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir contributed to increased turnout in the Arab sector.
"There has never been a politician in Israel like Netanyahu. A mega-politician who understands the Israeli soul better than anyone," Seri wrote on his X account. Netanyahu, he said, "knows what frightens Israelis, whom they hate."
Seri argued that the messages Netanyahu presented throughout the campaign were designed to raise fears of political cooperation with the Arab parties. He cited the slogans "Either right or Palestine" and "Gadi has no government without Abbas," claiming they influenced voters from other parties in the right-wing bloc.
He added, "Netanyahu has used fear and hatred of Arabs for years; this time it worked for him in a big way, especially following reports on election day of high turnout in Arab communities."
Seri then criticized Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whom he described as one of those responsible for the Arab parties' results. According to him, crime and murder cases in Arab society in the period leading up to the elections contributed to mobilizing Arab voters to the polls.
