Yair Netanyahu calls Israeli Arabs the main threat after Iran

Yair Netanyahu, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has sparked a backlash with comments about Arabs living in Israel.

In a post on X, he described Israeli Arabs as the greatest threat to the state’s existence, after Iran’s nuclear program.

Referring to the elections for the 26th Knesset, Yair Netanyahu claimed the results showed that, apart from Iran, the main danger to Israel’s long-term future came from the country’s Arabs.

“A country cannot survive in the long term when 20% of its population identifies with its enemies and wants its destruction,” he wrote.

He went on to comment on Islam and Muslims, claiming that most of them are unable to live peacefully alongside neighbors of other faiths.

The remarks drew fierce reactions in Israel. Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi called them racist and antisemitic, stressing that Arab citizens continue to work and seek a future based on cooperation and equal rights.

Publicist Rani Rahav also addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reminding him of his 2016 comments about Arab voters in Israel, for which the prime minister had apologized.

The reactions come amid political tensions following the parliamentary elections. Arab parties have significantly increased their representation, securing a total of 19 seats in the Knesset and gaining influence in negotiations to form the new government.