Arab Parties Face Deadlock Over Reestablishing Joint List as Ahmad Tibi Rejects Proposal

Leaders of the main Arab parties in Israel convened on Sunday to negotiate the reformation of the Joint List, a political alliance representing Arab Israelis. The reconciliation committee proposed a new list structure, which was approved by Hadash and Balad, but encountered a major obstacle when Ahmad Tibi, head of Ta'al, rejected the plan. The proposal allocated Ta'al the 2nd, 9th, and 12th spots on the list, with Hadash's Yousef Jabareen suggested as the lead candidate, followed by Tibi in second place, Sami Abu Shehadeh of Balad third, and Jaafar Farah of Hadash fourth.

Tibi demands a higher placement within the second quintile of the list, seeking to replace one of Hadash's allocated spots rather than accept the ninth position. This disagreement is currently the main sticking point delaying the reformation of the Joint List. The parties ended their meeting without resolution but plan to continue negotiations soon to bridge the gaps and revive the alliance.

A February public opinion poll showed strong support among the Arab public for reuniting the parties, with 82% in favor. The poll also indicated equal backing (23% each) for Jabareen and Tibi as potential leaders of the Joint List, followed by Mansour Abbas with 20% and Sami Abu Shehadeh with 10%. The outcome of these talks will shape the future of Arab political representation in Israel ahead of upcoming elections.