Arab parties’ Joint List deal collapses as Tibi rejects proposed Knesset slate

Three of the four major Arab parties - Hadash, Ta al, and Balad - failed to agree on a Joint List slate for the upcoming elections, with Ta al leader MK Ahmad Tibi rejecting the proposed Knesset slate on Sunday. This collapse could alter the dynamics of Arab party representation in the October 27 elections, as polls show they could gain more seats by running together than separately.

The negotiations were led by the internal Arab-led Reconciliation Committee, which presented a plan for the alliance's division. Hadash, Ta al, and Balad accepted the proposal, but Tibi refused to accept the proposed order of the list, with Hadash chairman Yousef Jabareen set to lead the slate at the top slot, followed by Tibi in the second slot.

Both Hadash and Balad leaders welcomed the proposal, leaving Tibi as the only party leader rejecting it. The breakdown of negotiations resulted in two Reconciliation Committee members resigning. The Hadash party stated its commitment to respect the public's wishes and prepare for the joint campaign, while Jabareen emphasized the importance of a strong Joint List to unseat the Netanyahu/Ben-Gvir/Smotrich government.

Despite the failure to reach an agreement, the door remained open for Ra am, led by MK Mansour Abbas, to join the alliance until the deadline for party Knesset list submissions. Despite Abbas' refusal, current Arab parties in the Knesset are Ra am and Hadash-Ta al, with Balad continuing to fail to pass the electoral threshold in polls.

Arab parties historically achieve their greatest electoral success when running together, with the Joint List receiving 15 seats in the 2020 elections.