Joint List Recovers Unity, Aims to Oust Netanyahu Government

The Joint List has submitted its official candidate lists for the upcoming Knesset elections, following intense negotiations and internal crises, including the last-minute replacement of a candidate. Youssef Jabareen, head of the Joint List, stated in an interview that the list has regained its unity in response to public demand and is entering the electoral race with renewed optimism.

Jabareen emphasized that the reunification of the Joint List is crucial to avoid repeating the mistakes of previous elections, where fragmented parties lost valuable parliamentary seats. He noted that the Arab public desired a unified list to achieve broader parliamentary representation and increase influence with official institutions. Despite acknowledging internal tensions during the formation process, Jabareen asserted that leadership is moving past these issues to focus on a seven-week campaign aimed at fostering a positive atmosphere and securing vote-sharing agreements to maintain the community's electoral strength.

The primary objective for the Joint List, according to Jabareen, is to prevent the current government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu and including figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, from continuing, warning of the consequences of their policies for Arab citizens. He affirmed that the list would make parliamentary alliances responsibly to serve the direct interests of the Arab public, stressing that the real electoral battle should be against the far-right, not internal competition.

Jabareen also highlighted the importance of engaging the international arena as a complementary strategy to parliamentary work. Drawing on his past experience, he explained that international forums, including the European Union, the OECD, the World Bank, and influential capitals like Washington, London, Paris, and Berlin, can exert pressure on domestic political work. This international outreach, he concluded, aims not only to address the Palestinian issue and end the occupation but also to combat discrimination, racism, and exclusion directed at Arab citizens.