The prospects of forming a Joint Palestinian Arab electoral list within Israel’s 1948 boundaries have significantly diminished ahead of forthcoming Israeli Knesset elections, after hopes rose in recent weeks amid popular support from Palestinian citizens of Israel, who are facing great hardship under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far right government.
Sources who participated in a meeting held at the Sakhnin Municipality in the Lower Galilee between the seven-member sub-committee representing the National Committee of Heads of Arab Local Authorities and the relevant Arab parties last Tuesday and Wednesday said the session was tense.
The sources told The New Arab that the United Arab List, which seeks to be part of the next Israeli government, attempted to impose its agenda on the other parties that oppose this approach.
According to three sources familiar with the discussions on the joint list, MK Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List, told representatives of the other parties – the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, the National Democratic Assembly and the Arab Movement for Change – “Accept the offer as it is or reject it entirely.”
He was referring to the United Arab List’s plans not to obstruct the work of the next Israeli government, which the party seeks to join.
This would mean that the group would continue to try to impose its agenda on the other parties, even if that conflicts with their principles.
The party previously participated in the former Israeli government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.
Despite the tense atmosphere and statements suggesting the parties are now closer to contesting the elections through two separate lists – the United Arab List on one side and the remaining parties on the other – the Reconciliation Committee, which is attempting to bridge differences among the parties continues to hold out hope for the formation of a united list.
They believe running on a single list remains the best option at the current stage for the benefit of Palestinian citizens of Israel and the Palestinian people as a whole.
Democratic Front for Peace and Equality Secretary-General Amjad Shbita however told The New Arab that the United Arab List had tried to impose a fait accompli and new conditions on the other parties.
“If there is no intention to establish a joint list, then it is better not to continue wasting time and playing games with each other and society. The United Arab List has a clear project and sees it as incompatible with establishing a joint list. Therefore, we should begin preparing ourselves and our society to contest the elections through two lists.”
He added, “It is unreasonable to keep talking about a single list when the reality is different. It was clear that this was what the United Arab List wanted, and it brought reassurance to its representatives. The matter has become exhausting, and therefore we must be frank with ourselves and our society.”
Shbita continued, “Our direction is towards a joint list composed of three components, including the Democratic Front, the Arab Movement for Change and the National Democratic Assembly, and we hope the United Arab List will join it.
“However, if it does not join because of its political programme, the public should know that we will contest the elections through two lists, which may be linked by a surplus-vote agreement, a code of honour, and joint work to raise voter turnout.”
‘Placing obstacles’
Later, the Democratic Front said it was ready to come to an agreement with the United Arab List despite “reservations”, but that the United Arab List had placed “obstacles” to this by “advancing new political demands” which did not align with original proposals for a joint list.
“Every time the other parties showed flexibility and agreed to overcome an obstacle, the United Arab List returned with a new condition that pushed the discussion backwards.”
The statement continued that “it became clear that these positions of the United Arab List and its insistence on accumulating conditions and obstacles stem from its preference for the option of two lists, based on considerations related to its understandings with the camp of Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman.
“Therefore, it has become clear that the correct course at this stage is to work towards forming the Joint List with its three components while keeping the door open for the United Arab List to join.”
The statement considered the United Arab List’s participation in the Joint List to be “the optimal option for increasing voter turnout and bringing down the right-wing government”.
It added however that “the party’s continued adherence to its position may impose a reality in which there is no alternative but to prepare for elections through two lists linked by a surplus-vote agreement and a code of honour affirming commitment to an objective political debate free of personal attacks and dedicated to increasing voter turnout to defeat the right”.
Some parties remain committed to joint action
Meanwhile, Yusuf Tatur, deputy secretary-general of the National Democratic Assembly, told The New Arab that the party remains committed to the four-party Joint List and hopes the obstacles can be overcome.
He added, “Despite everything that has happened, we do not believe we have exhausted all the necessary discussion. The Assembly had previously adopted a position in favour of a technical list, and the Democratic Front and the Arab Movement for Change joined that position.
“We see this as the basis for forming a joint list built on key principles, including the unity of our society and our people, working to increase voter turnout in Arab society, increasing Arab representation, bringing down the right-wing government and the right-wing project, and combating violence, crime, demolitions, and all the issues affecting our society.
“At the same time, it does not neglect the establishment of a Palestinian state, the causes of our people, and other fundamental issues on which we agree.”
He added, “This is also what the Reconciliation Committee and the seven-member committee believe satisfies all parties, without any party imposing its opinion or agenda on the others, so that each component retains its own sphere of action after the elections in accordance with its convictions, supporters and cadres.”
Tatur stressed that “at this particular stage, we must rise to the level of responsibility placed upon us, especially in light of the war of genocide in Gaza, settler terror in the occupied West Bank, developments across the region, and, of course, the problems and issues facing our society in the interior.
“Our interest as a people in the interior is to remain united.
“Therefore, despite everything, we believe the doors remain open to establishing a four-party Joint List, and they should not be closed.”
