Ra'am Chairman Abbas: 'Everyone is Talking to Us, Not Just the Change Bloc'
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Mansour Abbas, chairman of Ra'am, stated that "everyone is talking to us, not just the change bloc," following preliminary election results that saw Arab parties win 18 seats. Abbas revealed a senior right-wing figure approached him to discuss legislation. He believes a "change government" is not currently possible but is confident in his ability to form one if tasked by the president. The Joint List's chairman celebrated their 11-seat win and vowed to hold Netanyahu's government accountable.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ra'am Chairman Mansour Abbas says "everyone is talking to us, not just the change bloc."
- Abbas revealed a senior right-wing figure recently discussed the "accused law" with him.
- Current numbers do not allow for a government with Ra'am, but Abbas is confident in his ability to form one.
- Arab parties achieved a historic high turnout, winning 18 seats combined in preliminary results.
- The Joint List won 11 seats and vowed to remove Netanyahu's government.
- Abbas previously mediated negotiations between the right and the change bloc alongside Naftali Bennett.
Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Arab party Ra'am, stated in an interview with Channel 12 that "everyone is talking to us, not just the change bloc." He indicated that while the current numbers do not allow for a government to be formed with Ra'am, he is confident in his ability to navigate the political landscape once the final results are known. Abbas revealed that a very senior figure on the right had recently approached him to discuss the "accused law" and expressed interest in further dialogue.
Regarding the possibility of forming a "change government" with Ra'am, Abbas explained that with the current numbers, no such government is feasible. However, he expressed his knowledge of how to achieve such a goal, recalling his past experience negotiating with both the right and the change bloc, acting as a mediator alongside Naftali Bennett. Abbas affirmed that if tasked by the President with forming a government, he would not present a government headed by himself but would ensure a government is brought before the Knesset.
The interview followed preliminary election results where Arab parties achieved a historic high voter turnout, securing 18 seats in total. The Joint List garnered 11 mandates, while Ra'am received 7. Yosef Jabareen, chairman of the Joint List, celebrated the results, noting they had promised their constituents a double-digit number of seats and delivered. He asserted that no political scenario can ignore the Joint List and that they will make responsible decisions in the coming weeks, expressing hope to oust Benjamin Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich, and the "bloody government."
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