PM's son Yair Netanyahu deems Israeli Arabs 'greatest danger' to Israel besides Iran

OCTOBER 30, 2026 18:41Updated: OCTOBER 30, 2026 18:43Yair Netanyahu, son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, posted a statement on his X/Twitter account Friday addressing the election results for the 26th Knesset, claiming that "these elections proved that the greatest danger to the survival of the State of Israel, aside from the Iranian nuclear program, is what is called 'Israeli Arabs.'"According to him, this is a greater threat than that posed by Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Turkey, and Western antisemitism."A country cannot survive long-term when 20% of its population identifies with its enemies and wants its destruction," Netanyahu wrote. He further argued that France is "going up in flames and collapsing into itself" due to the proportion of Muslims in its population, and that Islam is not merely a religion but a political ideology. He claimed, "It is an ideology that is unwilling to live peacefully alongside 'infidel' neighbors."The prime minister's son added that, "Jews, Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus can live as good neighbors with one another, but most Muslims cannot."MK Ahmad Tibi responded sharply to his remarks, saying, "The bum from Miami released yet another typical racist and antisemitic statement. At least the Arabs here work for a dignified living and do not tweet from their residence in Miami. 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. And by the way, in a 'round two' [election] if there is one, we will turn out in greater numbers and even more determined."Members of the Joint Arab List Ahmad Tibi, Sami Abu Shehadeh and Yousef Jabareen arrive to submit their party’s candidate list to the Central Elections Committee at the Knesset in Jerusalem, September 8, 2026; illustrative. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)Public relations consultant Rani Rahav also responded to Yair Netanyahu's post, addressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, "Mr. Prime Minister, to remind you, you spoke like this about Israeli Arabs in the past. So what happened???????? What?!"He attached a video to the post from 2016, in which Benjamin Netanyahu referred to his statement that "Arab voters are flocking to the polls in droves," and said, "Many people were hurt, and this is understandable. I apologized for the way my words were understood."He later added: "My vision is that Arab boys and girls will grow up safely in the knowledge that there is nothing they cannot achieve in the State of Israel, as citizens with equal rights and value in a democracy," and called for cooperation between Jews and Arabs.Investigation into Suspected Qatari Election InterferenceThe remarks were published against the backdrop of the investigation into suspected foreign meddling in the 26th Knesset elections. The Mossad confirmed that it has joined the investigation into the gathered intelligence findings on the matter, and that it will assist the Shin Bet (ISA) in areas falling under its area of responsibility.As part of the inquiry, authorities are investigating, among other things, the possibility that Qatar was behind payments transferred to the Joint List’s apparatus. However, according to the information provided, the suspicions do not have, nor are they expected to have, any impact on the election results.Acting Director-General of the Central Elections Committee, Adv. Dean Livne, made clear that published reports regarding the suspicions are unfounded. According to him, the Shin Bet investigation began after classified intelligence was presented to Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg. Livne emphasized that the investigation is not focused on any specific sector and that it will not alter the election results.Likud's allegations, Arab politician's responseConcurrently, a police investigation continues into suspected election bribery among Ra'am activists, in which seven suspects have been arrested. Likud claimed that the elections were stolen through serious criminal offenses allegedly committed at polling stations across Arab society, including bribery, intimidation, and fraud.The party announced that it has transferred materials to the police, the Shin Bet, and the Central Elections Committee. The police clarified that the bribery investigation and the suspected foreign-interference inquiry are two separate matters.The Mayor of Rahat, Talal al-Krenawi, rejected Likud's claims in a conversation with Walla, "Disgusting; it is a total lie. This is incitement against the Bedouins." According to him, "We voted for the first time in history truly, with ID cards. I have never seen cleaner elections than these." He added: "Now, because we exercised our democratic right, we stole the election? If they don't want to let us vote, let them just say so."Follow us on Google