Palestinian Statehood Recognition Debate in Israeli Politics

Mansour Abbas, chairman of Ra'am (the United Arab List), delivered a keynote address over the weekend at his party's 28th national conference in Taibe, attended by more than a thousand party members. He discussed Ra'am's political strategy and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, declaring that Israel's Arab citizens serve as a "bridge to peace" in the region.

Abbas told the conference audience that Ra'am has put Israeli democracy to a genuine test and that Ra'am has transformed Arab party participation in government coalitions into "a political reality that is seriously on the table." He emphasized Ra'am's guiding principle of seeking influence from within the political system rather than from outside it.

Addressing the broader political arena, Abbas sharpened his position on the two-state solution: "We want peace between the State of Israel and the State of Palestine to be realized. The State of Palestine exists, the entire world recognizes it, and the U.S. and Israel must recognize it as well."

He added that peace would ensure an end to the conflict and occupation, noting that Arab citizens of Israel serve as "a bridge to achieving these goals, a bridge to understanding, reconciliation, and security for all people in the region."

The conference also approved Ra'am's candidate list for the next Knesset. The top five positions include Abbas at the head, followed by MKs Waleed Taha, Walid al-Hawashle, Iman Khatib-Yasin in the slot reserved for women, and Yasser Hajairat. Positions from sixth onward were left to Ra'am's executive committee, which received authority to approve additions of independent candidates from outside the party. This arrangement paves the way for possible inclusion of former Deputy Minister for Internal Security Yoav Segalovitz, who recently left the Yesh Atid party and is conducting advanced talks with Abbas about joining the list.

MK Yoav Segalovitz (Photo: Kikar HaShabbat)

Abbas's remarks triggered sharp reactions across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that "as long as I am prime minister, there will not be a Palestinian state controlled by Iran: not in Gaza, and not in Judea and Samaria. Period."

Netanyahu also addressed the possibility of a coalition with Ra'am: "The price of a left-wing coalition with the Muslim Brotherhood has been exposed again. These are the partners of Eisenkot, Liberman and Tropper, who boycott Likud voters but warmly welcome supporters of Tibi and Balad."

MK Gadi Eisenkot, a former IDF chief of staff now in opposition politics, also responded to Abbas's comments, stating clearly: "There is no Palestinian state, and in the government we establish, a Palestinian state will not arise."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sharply attacked the possibility of cooperation between Segalovitz and Ra'am, claiming that "Segalovitz's resignation is a joint conspiracy by the left to prepare the next government with the Muslim Brotherhood."

As Ra'am prepares for upcoming elections with a list that may include candidates from outside the party, the three other Arab parties—Hadash, Ta'al, and Balad—have reached agreements to run together on a joint slate separate from Ra'am.