Ra’am leader Abbas confirms talks over ex-Yesh Atid MK joining Arab party slate

Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab party Ra'am, has confirmed ongoing discussions with former Yesh Atid lawmaker Yoav Segalovich regarding his potential inclusion on Ra'am's slate for the upcoming elections. The two leaders described their conversation as "cordial and positive" and agreed to continue talks to advance the matter.

“

held a cordial and positive discussion about the possibility of Segalovich joining Ra’am’s slate in the upcoming Knesset elections.

Segalovich recently resigned from the Knesset and departed from Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid Party, intensifying reports that he would join Ra'am. This potential alliance is widely interpreted as a strategic move by Ra'am to bolster its image as a credible coalition partner. The party made history in 2021 by becoming the first Arab party to formally join an Israeli governing coalition, a move that faced significant criticism.

“

The two agreed to continue direct talks with the aim of advancing the matter.

Despite Ra'am's aspirations to rejoin the coalition, many opposition parties aiming to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have expressed reluctance to form a government that includes Arab parties. Segalovitz, a former head of Lahav 433, previously worked in the Knesset on combating violence within Arab society.

“

a plan to sell off the Jewish state is unfolding in cooperation with the Left.

However, the prospect of Segalovich joining Ra'am has drawn sharp criticism from the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's party accused Abbas of attempting to seize control of the National Security Ministry and implement policies detrimental to the "Jewish state." They alleged a plan to "take control of the National Security Ministry, to bring back the ‘terrorist summer camps’ in prisons, halt demolitions in the Negev, and take control of the Negev and Galilee Ministry in order to turn them into an Islamic territory."

“

Mansour Abbas is attempting, through Yoav Segalovitz, to take control of the National Security Ministry, to bring back the ‘terrorist summer camps’ in prisons, halt demolitions in the Negev, and take control of the Negev and Galilee Ministry in order to turn them into an Islamic territory.