Ra'am Party Separates from Islamic Movement's Religious Council

The Ra'am party has officially separated from the Islamic Movement's Shura Council, its religious advisory body, and has implemented internal primaries to select its Knesset list. This move, announced in December 2025 by party chairman Mansour Abbas and executed by September 2026, signifies a structural change for the party, which was previously considered the political arm of the Islamic Movement's southern faction and was subject to the Shura Council's decisions.

The separation is highlighted by the party's internal primaries held in August 2026, a process independent of the Islamic Movement's institutions. The resulting list for the 26th Knesset, submitted on September 7, 2026, notably features Yoav Segalovich, a former Yesh Atid MK, in the second position. Segalovich, who identifies as Zionist, is the first Jewish candidate in the party's history, underscoring the shift towards a more inclusive and internally determined candidate selection process.

Claims that the Shura Council still dictates Ra'am's list are primarily promoted by right-wing politicians, such as MKs Tzvi Fogel and Limor Son Har Melech of Otzma Yehudit. They argue that the separation from the Shura Council has not been fully implemented and have sought to have the southern faction declared a terrorist organization and Ra'am disqualified. However, these claims lack current factual basis following the party's independent primary elections and list submission.

Historically, the Shura Council played a significant role in Ra'am's major decisions, including its entry into the coalition government in 2021 and its decision to freeze participation in 2022. Despite these past influences, the council's actions were often part of political negotiations rather than automatic dictates. The current structure, with internal primaries and the inclusion of a Jewish candidate, demonstrates a departure from this past model.

The article clarifies that while Ra'am retains a conceptual and historical connection to the Islamic Movement, this does not equate to ongoing institutional subordination. The legal framework also does not grant religious or party bodies the authority to remove a Knesset member, with such actions strictly governed by Basic Law: The Knesset.