Mansour Abbas Demands Israel Recognize Palestinian State Ahead of 2026 Elections

Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra'am party, outlined his demands at Ra'am's 28th national conference in Tayibe, emphasizing the need for Israel and the United States to officially recognize a Palestinian state and end what he described as the Israeli occupation. Speaking to approximately 1,050 party members, Abbas asserted that a Palestinian state already exists and is recognized by most of the world except Israel and the US. He reiterated his party's intention to regain influence within the Israeli governing coalition.

Abbas highlighted that the inclusion of Arab parties in the coalition has become a political reality, challenging the Israeli democracy. He also called for renewed cooperation with the other three Arab parties to form joint agreements and electoral alliances. The conference confirmed the top five candidates on Ra'am's Knesset list, including Abbas, Walid Taha, Walid al-Huashla, Iman Khatib-Yasin, and Yasser Hajirat, with further slots to be decided. The party is also exploring political alliances, including talks to bring in Yoav Segalovich, a former member of Yesh Atid.

Walid Taha, Ra'am's faction chairman, declared that the party will actively pursue its political goals rather than merely presenting demands. In response, Yisrael party leader Gadi Eizenkot rejected Abbas's call, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that no Palestinian state will be established in any future government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposed Abbas's position, asserting that under his leadership, no Palestinian state controlled by Iran will be created in Gaza or the West Bank. Netanyahu criticized the left-wing coalition for partnering with Islamist factions, accusing them of undermining Likud voters while supporting parties like Taib and Balad.

The developments come as the Israeli political landscape prepares for the 2026 elections, with Abbas's Ra'am party potentially playing a pivotal role in coalition formation, especially for the bloc aligned with Gadi Eizenkot. Abbas's demands signal a firm stance on Palestinian statehood recognition and Arab political integration within Israel's government framework.