Ra'am Leader Mansour Abbas Refuses to Label Hamas Terrorist Group Amid Election Pressure

Ra'am chairman and Knesset member Mansour Abbas declined to directly answer whether Hamas is a terrorist organization that should be destroyed during a tense interview with Israel's Reshet Bet on October 17, 2023. When repeatedly pressed by interviewer Esti Perez about Hamas's responsibility for the October 7 attacks and whether he condemns it as a terrorist group, Abbas expressed frustration, calling the questions "loyalty tests" aimed at serving extremist agendas ahead of upcoming elections.

Abbas emphasized that Ra'am has condemned all acts of terrorism, including the October 7 attacks against innocent civilians, and stressed his commitment to peace and coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis. However, he refused to explicitly label Hamas as a terrorist organization, stating, "I have a clear answer, but I do not want to say it," citing threats to his life and the need for "self-preservation." He accused right-wing extremists of trying to portray Ra'am as an enemy or watchdog and warned that such pressure only empowers extremists who want to destroy chances for peace.

Throughout the interview, Abbas highlighted the difficult balance he tries to maintain between his Palestinian identity and Israeli citizenship, positioning himself as a bridge for reconciliation. He criticized the media and political system for falling into traps set by extremists seeking to delegitimize the Arab public and insisted that Ra'am's values are clear despite the repeated loyalty tests. Abbas concluded by rejecting the ongoing attempts to force him into divisive rhetoric, calling it a "stupidity" dominating public discourse in Israel today.