Arab Party Leaders Declare Intent to Run on Joint List Following Mass Sakhnin Protest

The leaders of Israel’s four Arab parties — Ra’am, Hadash, Ta’al and Balad — declared on Thursday evening their intention to contest the upcoming elections on a joint list, in a move driven by mounting public pressure following widespread protests against crime and violence in Arab society.

The declaration was signed by Mansour Abbas (Ra’am), Ayman Odeh (Hadash), Ahmed Tibi (Ta’al) and Sami Abu Shehadeh (Balad). The document, bearing the emblem of the Sakhnin municipality, was signed during a joint meeting of the Supreme Monitoring Committee and the Committee of Heads of Arab Local Authorities, held at Sakhnin City Hall.

The meeting took place at the conclusion of a mass demonstration in Sakhnin, which drew tens of thousands of participants and is considered the largest protest in Arab society since 2019.

Public Pressure Drives Unity Gesture

The gathering was convened to discuss the continuation of protest measures and ways to leverage the momentum created in recent days. Dozens of local residents attended the meeting and urged party leaders to formalize a joint list as a symbol of unity in the face of the escalating crisis.

However, sources familiar with the discussions stressed that the move is primarily declarative at this stage, made under intense public pressure, and that significant obstacles remain before a binding agreement can be reached.

While the four parties have held multiple meetings in recent months — both jointly and in smaller forums — efforts to establish a unified electoral framework have not yet matured into a concrete deal.

Ideological Gaps and Coalition Disputes Remain

Key unresolved issues include leadership of the list, seat allocation, and the formulation of a shared political platform. Beyond these technical questions, a fundamental ideological divide persists between Ra’am and the other parties.

Mansour Abbas has repeatedly expressed openness to influencing government formation and even joining a coalition, while Hadash, Ta’al and Balad oppose coalition participation — particularly with right-wing figures such as Naftali Bennett. Abbas has also reportedly received messages from opposition figures indicating that his participation in a unified list could limit his future coalition prospects.

Some Arab local authority leaders have floated the idea of a “technical joint list”, which would allow the parties to run together for electoral purposes while retaining the option to split after the election if no agreement is reached on coalition participation, or alternatively to form a blocking bloc.

Largest Arab Protest Since 2019

The declaration followed a massive demonstration in Sakhnin protesting the surge in crime and violence in Arab communities. Protesters carried black flags, photos of murder victims and placards reading “Criminals out,” “The police are complicit,” and “The police are absent and crime is rising.”

Speaking at the rally, Abbas warned that “as long as the current government exists, there is danger to the lives of our children,” calling on the authorities to “stop the neglect and failure.”

Odeh said the demonstration reflected grassroots leadership:
“This impressive protest came from the public, and the leadership adopted it. We want a society without weapons and free of organized crime. If the government does not act, we will continue with peaceful civil disobedience.”

Tibi called for expanding the protest nationwide, including joint Arab-Jewish demonstrations in Tel Aviv.
“Netanyahu does not care about the killing of Arabs,” he said. “We must continue the momentum and ultimately paralyze the economy.”