Former MK Yoav Segalovitz Joins Arab Party Ra'am to Build 'Political Bridge'

Former Knesset member Yoav Segalovitz officially announced on Monday his decision to join the United Arab List (Ra'am) party, led by Mansour Abbas. In a joint statement, Segalovitz declared his intention to build a "real political bridge" between Jewish and Arab communities in Israel, acknowledging that the endeavor would face difficulties. He asserted that the notion that political partnership with Arab parties is impossible after the October 7th Hamas attacks is "absurd and false."

Segalovitz explained that his decision, made after extensive deliberation and conversations with Abbas, was driven by the current social polarization between Jews and Arabs. He believes that cooperation is possible based on trust, recognition of differences, and a commitment to joint action, emphasizing that neither he nor Ra'am intend to change each other. He aims to break the paradigm of division and discourse, stating, "I want to break the paradigm of how to create political partnership."

Addressing potential criticism, Segalovitz stated that while some may view his move as political weakness, he sees it as a source of strength and power. He argued that progress comes from understanding differences, not from similarity, and that a shared goal of advancing Israeli society across various sectors, including combating crime, healthcare, and planning, is achievable.

Segalovitz cited the Israeli Declaration of Independence as his guiding principle and expressed a desire to foster hope rather than fear within the political system. He believes that leadership's role is to change reality and create a better future, acknowledging the historical context of strained relations but focusing on building a new path forward.