ABSTRACT
This chapter draws on the insights of existing literature and seeks to contribute to the study of the behavior of Arab voters on the individual level in two key areas: it provides an empirical examination of some of the explanations offered for the participation or abstention of Arab voters, and it performs a preliminary analysis of the preferences of Arab voters for one of the three Arab parties competing in the elections. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the number of Arab citizens eligible to vote prior to the elections for the nineteenth Knesset was approximately 765,000. Israel is unique in that it declares itself a liberal-democratic regime while at the same time implementing a de facto ethnic regime that favors Jews, as reflected in its laws, ideology, structure, and symbols. The political context of the Arab citizens of Israel defines the rationale behind participation and voting.
