Arab Parties' New Knesset Members Face Scrutiny Over Past Statements

The recent Israeli elections saw a dramatic surge in voter turnout among the Arab sector, resulting in the Joint List and Ra'am parties securing a combined 19 Knesset seats, a significant increase that positions them as major players in Israeli politics. This article profiles some of these newly elected members, highlighting past statements and actions that have drawn attention.

Yosef Jabareen, head of Hadash, has been noted for his past participation in international forums opposing Israel's definition as a Jewish state and supporting boycotts. Reports also link him to meetings with security prisoners and individuals associated with terror organizations, including visiting a convicted murderer in prison.

Dr. Maha Karkabi Sabbagh, a sociologist and senior lecturer, enters the Knesset from academia. Her work focuses on gender issues and what she terms the "oppression" of Arab academics in Israel during wartime. She has described the Gaza war as a "war of annihilation."

Mansour Abbas, leader of Ra'am, has strongly condemned the October 7th massacre and called for Palestinian armed groups to disarm. However, he has been criticized for evading direct answers on whether Hamas is a terrorist organization and for past eulogies and condolences offered to families of security prisoners and those involved in terror activities.

Yoav Segalovitz, a former Deputy Commissioner of the Israel Police, joined Ra'am, emphasizing his belief in Jewish-Arab political partnership while maintaining his Zionist worldview. He aims to bridge divides and challenge the notion that the October 7th events preclude such partnerships.

Walid Taha, a senior figure in Ra'am, represents the party's religious and conservative wing. He has been criticized for referring to Palestinian prisoners as "prisoners of freedom" and "prisoners of the cause," and for participating in delegations to visit families of those involved in terror attacks.

Walid Al-Huashla, a prominent representative of Bedouin society in Ra'am, focuses on issues affecting Negev residents, including land rights and infrastructure. He has accused the government of oppressive policies against Bedouins and described home demolitions as a "human crime."

Iman Khatib-Yassin, a Member of Knesset, faced significant backlash for questioning aspects of the October 7th massacre testimonies, specifically regarding the reported atrocities. Despite calls for her resignation, she remained in the Knesset.

Other profiled members include: Ibrahim Al-Touri, a pharmacist advocating for government services for the Arab community; Abd al-Karim Masri, a preacher involved in protests concerning holy sites and supporting those arrested for violence; Ahmad Tibi, a long-serving MK and former advisor to Yasser Arafat, known for his rhetoric on Palestinian national struggle and past visits to imprisoned militants; Faten Ghattas, who has accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing" and "genocide" and questioned the definition of Jews as a people; Bachir Owda, who has organized protests against the Gaza war and expressed solidarity with Gaza residents; Ofer Cassif, a Jewish MK who supported South Africa's ICJ case against Israel and has faced legal issues for assaulting a police officer; Nihaya Washahee, who has spoken about the suffering in Gaza and accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing"; Haitham Zghalqa, who has promoted naming streets after Palestinian figures and terror operatives; Hassan Al-Nasra, who has supported violent uprisings by Bedouins and visited released terrorists; Yousef Attauna, who has described the Gaza conflict as a "war of annihilation"; Ahmad Darawsha, who has praised released terrorists and accused Israel of "genocide"; and Yasser Hujairat, who has been involved in solidarity visits to families of those whose homes were demolished due to alleged criminal activity.