Ra'am Chairman Abbas Suggests Abolishing Jewish Character of Israel Could Be 'Excellent'

Mansour Abbas, chairman of the United Arab List (Ra'am) party, has stated that abolishing the Jewish character of the state could be an "excellent" demand, though he currently deems it unrealistic. Abbas made these remarks in a video posted to his Facebook page, where he criticized other Arab parties for what he described as unrealistic slogans and empty promises in their political strategies.

Abbas articulated that demands such as ending the occupation, achieving peace, and abolishing the state's Jewish character are "excellent" but not currently feasible within Israeli politics. He specifically highlighted the word "today" in his statement, implying that while these demands may not be realistic now, they could become so in the future as the political landscape potentially shifts.

The article frames Abbas's comments as a continuation of a "polite jihad" or a pragmatic approach characteristic of the Muslim Brotherhood, suggesting a long-term strategy to achieve goals when conditions are more favorable. Despite his criticism of other Arab parties, the core of his message, according to the report, remains the idea that ending the state's Jewish identity is a desirable, albeit currently unattainable, objective.

Abbas, who is considered a potential partner for the left-wing bloc in forming the next government, made these statements in Arabic. The report emphasizes that these remarks serve as a reminder of the "true perception" of a key partner for the "change bloc."