Mansour Abbas Eyes Government Change, Calls for Arab Party Cooperation

Mansour Abbas, head of the United List party, announced that his party has submitted its candidacy papers to the Knesset elections committee. He stated that the United List, with its seats, is capable of playing a role in replacing the current right-wing government. Abbas also urged the three-party Joint List to sign an agreement on surplus votes and a code of honor for near-term cooperation.

Abbas elaborated in an interview with Radio al-Shams that the United List has completed its registration for the upcoming elections. He believes the party's presence in the Knesset could allow it to influence the composition of both the government and the opposition, depending on election results.

Regarding inter-Arab party relations, Abbas called for coordination, proposing a surplus vote agreement and a code of honor with the Joint List. He suggested a strategy where one Arab party could be part of the governing coalition while another serves in the opposition, maximizing Arab political influence.

Abbas also addressed allegations concerning candidate Jafar Farah, emphasizing the necessity of protecting women from harassment and ensuring their rights. He stressed that this issue should be handled independently of Farah's specific case. The article notes that the Hadash party council had voted to suspend Farah's candidacy for the second position on their list, subsequently electing Faten Ghattas to that spot, following complaints filed with women's organizations.

Abbas reiterated his focus on the United List's potential role in changing the government and his call for cooperation among Arab parties. He also underscored the importance of protecting women, separating this from the candidate's situation.