Arab Israeli Party 'All of Us Are Equal' Withdraws from Knesset Elections

The Arab Israeli political party "All of Us Are Equal" (Kolenech Taaam) has officially announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Knesset elections. The party stated its decision stems from a desire to focus on grassroots efforts and mobilize Arab citizens to increase voter turnout. Rula Daoud, a prominent leader in the party and the "Standing Together" movement, revealed in an exclusive interview with i24NEWS that the withdrawal followed failed coalition talks with the Joint List, a bloc of Arab parties.

Daoud explained that the decision was driven by a sense of "national responsibility" to prevent the fragmentation of Arab votes and to avoid strengthening the right-wing bloc. The party's original goals were to present a new political model embodying Arab-Jewish partnership and to gain influential representation in the Knesset. However, "All of Us Are Equal" opted not to risk running independently, fearing a wasted vote.

Daoud criticized traditional Arab parties and the Joint List for what she described as squandering a "golden opportunity" to embrace new, youth-driven political energy. She indicated that discussions did not translate into a practical agreement and lamented the persistence of outdated political approaches that hinder the integration of new movements. Despite the setback, Daoud affirmed that the party will continue its field activism and focus on strengthening its organizational structure for future political challenges.

Despite disappointment with the engagement from existing lists, Daoud issued a strong appeal to the Arab public and youth to participate actively in the elections on October 27th. She emphasized the current stage requires setting aside party differences and focusing on the elections as a crucial juncture for determining representation and influence.