Arab Leader Mansour Abbas Seeks to Insert Ra'am into Israeli Coalition Politics
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Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List (Ra'am), is looking to join the governing coalition after Arab parties are projected to win around 19 Knesset seats in the October 27 election.
Mansour Abbas, the dentist-turned-politician who leads the United Arab List (Ra'am), is positioning his party to become a coalition partner as Israel moves into a complicated and politically sensitive government-formation process. Projections for the October 27 election show the two main Arab-led parties could secure roughly 19 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, giving Arab lawmakers potential leverage in coalition talks and raising the stakes for who will shape the next government.
Abbas, who entered the Knesset in 2019, argues that participation in government can deliver concrete improvements for Arab communities, including better housing, infrastructure and public services. In a recent interview with the German outlet Qantara, he said, "> We want to become part of the coalition and the government," adding that Ra'am aims to be "a party for all citizens."
The party’s most notable breakthrough came in June 2021 when Ra'am joined the coalition led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, marking the first time in decades that an independent Arab party entered an Israeli governing coalition. The agreement secured commitments on development funding and measures to address crime, housing shortages and infrastructure deficits in Arab areas. The coalition later collapsed in 2022, highlighting both the opportunities and the risks that come with bringing such parties into government.
Ahead of the current election, Abbas indicated openness to joining a new government, while the Joint List signaled it could support a government from outside the coalition. Abbas warned that a return to a Netanyahu-led administration would have serious repercussions for both the state and Arab citizens, emphasizing his view that political outcomes affect the broader society and the balance of power in Israel’s political system.
Arab voters, who comprise about one-fifth of Israel’s population, are focusing on issues such as crime, housing, employment and public services. Higher turnout among Arab voters could increase their bargaining power, but translating electoral strength into policy influence will depend on the ensuing coalition negotiations and whether the next government is able to maintain stability.