Author Questions Critics' Motives in Targeting Arab List Leader Mansour Abbas

Dr. Kamel Rayan, in a recent opinion piece, criticizes what he describes as a surge of "bidding wars" and accusations against Dr. Mansour Abbas, the leader of the Arab List. Rayan argues that various political factions, including nationalists, Islamists, liberals, and socialists, are unfairly holding Abbas responsible for perceived failures in the political landscape.

Rayan defends Abbas's rise to leadership, stating he was not appointed for personal gain but ascended through organizational processes within the Islamic Movement and the Arab List. He emphasizes that Abbas's decisions are not solely individual but are guided by the movement's charter and leadership structures. While acknowledging the right to disagree with Abbas's choices, Rayan condemns attempts to delegitimize him through accusations of treason and distortion.

The author poses a critical question: if Abbas has indeed erred, will discrediting him or questioning his faith and patriotism lead to correction? He suggests that course correction is the responsibility of the institutions that empowered him, not political or media "inquisition courts."

Rayan then challenges Abbas's critics to present their own alternative projects for addressing pressing societal issues. He lists critical concerns such as escalating violence, road accidents, youth incarceration, domestic fatalities, home demolitions, land confiscation, organized crime, and the emigration of young people. He asserts these are not minor issues but represent a "bleeding society" in need of real solutions beyond rhetoric and political maneuvering.

Furthermore, Rayan highlights that Abbas and the Arab List face threats from multiple sources, including Israeli fascists and racists, criminal gangs, political rivals, and even voices claiming patriotism and religious piety. He questions whether it is appropriate for these supposed partners in shared concerns to also become targets.

Rayan concludes by stating that the Arab List and the Islamic Movement have chosen a difficult path, paying a high price to salvage what they can of the Arab Palestinian society within Israel's complex political, social, and security environment. He calls for alternative constructive projects rather than efforts to dismantle existing initiatives and urges those with viable plans to present them to the public for competition in serving the community.