A historic moment unfolded as an Arab citizen's Islamic politician stood smiling next to a right-wing Jewish leader and his allies, just moments after being approved as Prime Minister and granted a governing majority in parliament. The collaboration between the two sides aimed at opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facilitated Mansour Abbas's emergence on the political stage on Wednesday, as the small Islamic faction secured a slim majority over the Jewish parties hoping to isolate Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister.
The United Arab List will become the first party representing the Arab minority, which makes up 21 percent of Israel's population, to participate in an Israeli government. The government has yet to receive parliamentary approval. Abbas, 47, set aside his differences with Naftali Bennett, the next Prime Minister and former leader of a significant Jewish settlement organization, known for advocating the annexation of most of the occupied West Bank.
Abbas, a dentist, stated his hope to improve the conditions of Arab citizens who complain of discrimination and governmental neglect. In a message to his supporters following the coalition agreement with Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid, he remarked that his faction decided to join the government "to change the political balance of power in the country."
The United Arab List announced that the agreement includes allocating over 53 billion shekels ($16 billion) to enhance infrastructure and tackle violence in Arab cities. Additionally, the agreement features clauses to freeze the demolition of houses built without permits in Arab villages and to grant Bedouin towns in the Negev, a stronghold of Islamic support, official status.
Abbas noted that when the government is established with the support of the Arab faction, it would be able to influence it and achieve accomplishments for the Arab community.
*Weak Coalition*
Abbas hails from the village of Maghar, inhabited by Muslims and Druze near the Sea of Galilee. His party is the political wing of the southern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, established in 1971 and rooted in the Muslim Brotherhood.
Before the coalition agreement was approved, Abbas sought permission from the Shura Council of the Islamic Movement, which had previously directed the party's votes in parliament on issues such as LGBTQ rights. Abbas's party had split from the main Arab coalition in Israel, the Joint List, ahead of the March 23 elections, after unsuccessfully calling for collaboration with Netanyahu and other right-wing factions to improve the living conditions of Arabs.
Many Arabs criticize Abbas's approach, questioning how he justifies being part of a government that enforces military occupation on their Palestinian brothers in the West Bank and imposes a blockade on Gaza governed by Hamas.
Mousa Al-Ziyadna from the Bedouin town of Rahat in southern Israel remarked that Abbas should be commended for attempting a new approach, but if another war breaks out in Gaza while he is part of the government, he will face pressure to withdraw.
Sami Abu Shahada, a member of the Joint List, stated that Abbas fundamentally changed his historical political stance by joining Bennett and other right-wing leaders, describing it as a "very serious crime." He added that Bennett was the head of a council rumored to represent settlers, and supporting what he termed a dangerous establishment meant Abbas chose to stand with the extreme right in the settlements "against the interests of our people."
The Joint List, which won six seats in the elections, did not comment on Abbas’s decision to participate in the coalition. Abbas had temporarily halted coalition negotiations during the 11 days of fighting between Israel and militants in Gaza last month, which also sparked violence between Jews and Arabs in Israel.
However, Erik Rodentzky from the Israel Democracy Institute stated that the decision to join the coalition reflects a long-term strategic perspective. He added, “Such a strategic option will not be rescinded merely due to violent events.” He continued, “If (Arabs) have waited 70 years to enter the government, they can endure 70 days of violence with Gaza.”
