Mansour Abbas's Political Project: Pragmatism Over National Identity

A political analysis argues that Mansour Abbas's project, as leader of the United Arab List (Ra'am), prioritizes the daily lives and physical existence of Palestinians in Israel over a rigid adherence to Palestinian national identity. The author posits that Abbas's approach stems from a recognition of the difficult and unequal power dynamics favoring the Zionist majority, believing that traditional Palestinian national politics has failed to effect change. Instead, Abbas advocates for participation in political decision-making, including joining the government, to improve the situation of Arab citizens.

This strategy, according to the analysis, requires Abbas to make concessions on public expressions of identity and to build trust with the Jewish public, exemplified by his collaboration with Yoav Segalovitz. This pragmatic approach, which includes moderating Palestinian national rhetoric, is seen as a departure from the more assertive national discourse influenced by figures like Azmi Bishara. Abbas believes this shift is necessary to influence the Zionist public and achieve tangible results, rather than focusing solely on rights and demands.

The author contrasts Abbas's "ethics of responsibility" with the "ethics of intentions" prevalent in other Arab parties, emphasizing the importance of outcomes over good intentions. Abbas is willing to compromise on the precise naming of events, such as potential genocide in Gaza, if it increases the chances of ending such occurrences and allows for future coalition participation. This strategy, while risky and debated by critics like Prof. Ari'el Sabaa'-Khuri, is presented as a realistic attempt to change the regime from within and improve the status of Arab citizens in Israel, arguing that past protest-based strategies have yielded limited success.

The analysis suggests that Abbas's project is not about abandoning national identity but about recognizing its dynamic nature and the need for adaptation to achieve political influence. He believes that the presence of an Arab party in the coalition can foster a change in consciousness among the Zionist public, demonstrating that Arabs do not seek to harm Jews. This, in turn, could alter the nature of Zionism and the behavior of the Jewish majority, ultimately leading to a shift in the Israeli regime's power structure and a more equitable society.