Former Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg Joins New Jewish-Arab Party for Upcoming Elections

Avraham Burg, 71, former Knesset member and 15th Knesset Speaker, announced on Saturday that he will run for the Knesset as part of the new Israeli party "Makom LeKulanu" (A Place for All of Us). Burg, who also served as chairman of the Jewish Agency, retired from politics to focus on writing, publishing seven books. In June 2025, he publicly opposed the "With Lion" military operation, calling it "the most unnecessary and cynical war in Israel's history." In an interview with journalist Tucker Carlson, Burg criticized the "Roaring Lion" operation, describing it as "World War I of Jewish and Christian fundamentalism." He condemned the Israeli settlement enterprise as "daily crimes against innocent Palestinians" committed by "wild and cruel settlers."

Since June 2022, Burg and several Jewish and Arab partners have been working to establish a new Jewish-Arab civil party aimed at fostering political partnership between Jews and Arabs. This party, initially named "Kol Ezrahim" (All Citizens), was founded in August 2022 but chose not to participate in the 25th Knesset elections. "Makom LeKulanu," founded in June 2026, is a new joint Jewish-Arab party led by activists Rola Daoud, a leader of the "Standing Together" movement, and Alon-Lee Green. Burg's decision to join this party marks his political comeback ahead of the upcoming elections.