Diaspora Minister Shikli Explains Past Support for Mansour Abbas as Minister

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli of the Likud party has clarified his June 2021 statement expressing willingness to see Ra'am party chairman Mansour Abbas serve as Minister for Regional Cooperation. In an interview with 103FM Radio, Chikli stated that Abbas initially seemed to embody hope for change within the Arab Israeli community. However, Chikli now believes Abbas proved to be an Islamist incapable of condemning Hamas or designating them a terrorist organization.

Chikli criticized political efforts to integrate Ra'am as a legitimate partner, specifically targeting MK Yisrael "Yuli" Edelstein's past attempts to ally with the party. Chikli argued that such moves bring Israel closer to becoming a binational state, a concept he opposes. He asserted that anyone against a binational state should denounce individuals like Edelstein.