Israeli Center Faces Shifts Amid Abbas Sidelining
The article discusses the escalating political tensions during Israel's 2026 election campaign, highlighted by statements from Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List, regarding the need for Arabs to accept Israel's definition as a Jewish state. His remarks sparked widespread controversy and calls to prevent him from running in the elections. Abbas expressed that he felt compelled to accept this definition to avoid his list being disqualified, emphasizing that it reflects a constitutional reality imposed by the Jewish majority. He also linked participation in the political system to acknowledging Palestinian identity, without negating the Nakba. The decision to include a Jewish figure, Yoav Seglovič, as the second on his list, sparked debate over the concept of a civil partnership project between Arabs and Jews. This move provoked outrage from right-wing parties, who viewed it as a tactical maneuver rather than a firm stance. Within Netanyahu’s camp, there is concern over a drop of about ten seats for Likud, along with calls from right-wing parties to unite and reduce vote splitting ahead of the elections. Analyses suggest that Abbas's intention in forming an alliance with Seglovič aims to present a political model that integrates both Arabs and Jews. However, he faces internal political contradictions within the Arab community and fears losing support. Meanwhile, Netanyahu seeks to recover lost votes and diminish the influence of anti-government parties amid intra-party competition to form a government and increasing electoral challenges.
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