Three Palestinian parties in Israel form joint list ahead of elections

Three Palestinian parties in Israel – Hadash, Balad, and Ta'Al – have agreed to run on a joint electoral slate for the upcoming parliamentary elections, according to a statement released on Wednesday. The decision comes as Palestinian citizens in Israel face increasing political pressure and violence. The parties believe that by coming together, they can strengthen their representation in the Knesset and work towards a more equitable political landscape.

The revival of the Joint List, which was first established in 2015, has been a topic of discussion for several months. The initial formation of the Joint List was prompted by a legislative change that raised the electoral threshold from 2% to 3.25%, a move that was perceived as exclusionary towards Palestinian parties. Historically, the Joint List has comprised Hadash, Balad, Ta'Al, and the United Arab List (Ra'am), but Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas announced in June that his party would not join the alliance, opting instead to run independently and potentially include a Jewish former police commander, Yoav Segalovich, on its electoral list.

Current polls suggest that the three-party alliance could secure eight Knesset seats, while Ra'am could win an additional six. The significance of Palestinian parties in the Knesset has grown in recent years, as competing political blocs have struggled to attain a majority, potentially positioning Palestinian parties as influential kingmakers.

However, both the opposition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot have indicated that they do not plan to partner with Palestinian parties following the elections.