Ra'am Leader Mansour Abbas Plans to Retire from Knesset After Next Term

Mansour Abbas, chairman of the United Arab List (Ra'am), announced his intention to retire from the Knesset following the upcoming term. In an interview with Independent Arabia last week, Abbas stated that the forthcoming election would be his last campaign for a parliamentary seat, as he plans to make way for younger leadership within the party.

Abbas emphasized Ra'am's goal to replace the current government, which he described as "racist and fascist," with a new coalition government that includes Ra'am and grants it significant influence to improve conditions for the Arab community in Israel. He expressed the party's aim to be a complementary bloc in forming a coalition exceeding 61 mandates.

Addressing political issues, Abbas criticized the far-right in Israel for pushing society toward despair regarding the possibility of a two-state solution. He noted that a majority of Israeli society believes the only viable resolution involves separation between Israelis and Palestinians, effectively through the establishment of a Palestinian state. Abbas highlighted that the Palestinian state already exists with international recognition and that the challenge lies in solidifying its presence on the ground through practical actions.