Ex-Police Chief Yoav Segalovitch Joins Arab Party Ra'am, Takes Second Spot

Former Israeli police commissioner and ex-Yesh Atid MK Yoav Segalovitch announced on Monday his decision to join the United Arab List (Ra'am) party, running in second place on its Knesset slate for the upcoming elections. Segalovitch, a Jewish candidate, will be the first to appear at the top of Ra'am's list, following party chairman Mansour Abbas.

Segalovitch, who previously served as Deputy Minister for Internal Security in the Bennett-Lapid government, was responsible for coordinating the government's efforts against crime and violence in the Arab community. He highlighted his past collaboration with Abbas on this issue, stating that their joint work led to a "real change" in the trend of rising crime rates. Abbas emphasized that tackling crime and violence in the Arab community is Ra'am's top priority and that Segalovitch's expertise is crucial for this mission.

Abbas framed Segalovitch's addition as a statement of Ra'am's political vision, advocating for civic partnership and viewing others as human beings, not enemies. He addressed potential criticism by stating he seeks individuals who can do the job, regardless of their religion, and stressed that crime is a national problem affecting all Israelis.

Segalovitch described his move as an attempt to break existing political paradigms and build partnerships based on understanding differences rather than complete ideological agreement. He aims to challenge the conventional ways political alliances are formed in Israel, emphasizing his personal commitment to Ra'am's goals, particularly in combating crime and improving various aspects of life in Israel.

The move has drawn mixed reactions. MK Gilad Kariv of the Democrats welcomed the decision as "good news for Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel," praising the courage of both Abbas and Segalovitch. Conversely, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana of the Likud party criticized the move, linking it to potential coalition-building scenarios and questioning Ra'am's stance on Hamas.