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Report: Arab parties on verge of united Knesset list

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Following weeks of speculation, the three parties which traditionally represent the Arab sector are reportedly set to sign an agreement to run a joint list of candidates in the upcoming general election.

Arab parties, Balad and Ra’am-Ta’al plus the socialist Arab-Jewish Hadash Party each individually hold a handful of Knesset seats. However, the electoral threshold has been raised to 3.25 per cent of the vote for the election on 17 March, which some have predicted none of the three parties would achieve. As a result, discussions between the party leaders have taken place over the past several weeks about forming a joint list. Polls have indicated that a united ticket could secure around 12 Knesset seats. Until now, ideological and factional differences have prevented such an arrangement.

Media reports suggest that the list will be headed by Hadash leader Ayman Odeh, a lawyer from Haifa. Second slot would be given to Ra’am-Ta’al’s Masud Ghnaim, followed by Balad head and current MK Jamal Zahalka. Prominent slots will apparently be filled by two of the highest profile and controversial Arab Knesset members. Ra’am-Ta’al’s Ahmed Tibi will be in fourth place, while Balad’s Hanin Zoabi will fill the seventh slot. Zoabi was recently banned from Knesset activity for six months owing to provocative media statements and was earlier this month investigated for incitement having verbally abused a policeman. Meanwhile, the eighth slot on the list will reportedly be filled by Hadash’s only Jewish MK Dov Kheinin.

Haaretz says that the impetus to finally agree a unified list is recent violence in a southern Bedouin city and increased tension in the north. An anonymous MK is quoted saying, “After all the incidents in Rahat and on the Syrian Golan Heights and their implications, unity is the only way.”

It has also been reported recently that the Arab-dominated parties rejected the suggestion of joining a potential coalition headed by the Zionist Camp’s Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni, but could give tacit support from outside.