Ra'am chairman MK Mansour Abbas stated firmly in an interview with the Arab news site Panet that he never proposed designating Hamas a terrorist organization as part of joining a government coalition, and warned the Arab public not to believe such claims.
Abbas flatly denied reports that he had offered to label Hamas a terror group in order to advance a partnership in the next government. "No statement came from me about a willingness to define the Hamas movement as a terrorist organization," he said.
"This statement did not come from me, and I want to emphasize to all Arab viewers that during this period you will hear many statements from various sources and media outlets," Abbas continued. "In Israel there is a large group of parties with different interests. Do not relate to any statement that does not come directly and officially from us as the United Arab List and its Knesset members."
Abbas explained that the top priority now is "to ensure the actual fall of the Netanyahu, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir government, and to leave them four years in the opposition so that we can fix what can be fixed during this period."
He added that the broader goal of the Arab parties is to be a key player in the next government. "Arab society is telling you that our goal is to be influential inside the government and the coalition," Abbas said.
