Netanyahu's Plan to Ban Ra'am Could Win Him the Upcoming Elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is personally involved in examining the feasibility of a dramatic pre-election move: designating the Southern Islamic Movement as a terrorist organization and disqualifying its political wing, the Ra'am party, from running in Israel's upcoming elections, scheduled for October 2026.

The details were revealed Monday by Channel 13 journalist Suleiman Maswadeh in an interview with Radio 103FM. "This is something that has been developing in Netanyahu's circle for several weeks," Maswadeh said. "He personally checked whether this is legally and security-wise possible."

According to earlier reports, the move would be based on allegations that the Southern Islamic Movement transferred funds and aid to the Gaza Strip during the war, which Netanyahu's allies argue makes it a body that supports terrorist organizations in wartime. Implementing the plan would require legislative changes in the Knesset, amendments to the Counterterrorism Law, and official assessments from relevant security bodies, particularly the Shin Bet.

Despite the ambition behind the plan, Maswadeh noted that Netanyahu himself is wary of the risks. The central fear in the Prime Minister's Office is that if the move fails or is blocked, it could backfire, energizing Arab voters and driving higher turnout in a community that might otherwise stay home.

The efforts are taking place alongside discussions over potentially designating the Southern branch of the Islamic Movement as a terrorist organization, with talks among Netanyahu allies centering on allegations that it transferred donations to Gaza during the ongoing war.

Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas has taken preemptive steps in response to the threat. Abbas announced that his party would sever ties with the Islamic Movement's Shura Council and become fully civilian, emphasizing that Ra'am was not part of the Muslim Brotherhood but a local Islamic movement. Analysts viewed the move as a preemptive strike against Netanyahu, denying him the opportunity to block the party from contesting the elections.

Abbas accused Netanyahu of "trying to steal the election," while a source close to Netanyahu said the ban was not specifically connected to Ra'am, stating: "To the extent that Ra'am departs from the law, the party will be disqualified from running regardless of the Muslim Brotherhood."

Political sources quoted by Srugim were unambiguous about the potential impact. "If this happens, Netanyahu is the next prime minister," one source said. "This is a game changer."

Ra'am currently holds five seats in the Knesset, and polls suggest it is likely to maintain that representation in the October 2026 elections, with analysts noting the party is expected to remain a kingmaker in any attempt to form a government.