Former MK Yoav Segalovitch Joins Arab Party Ra'am in Bid for Jewish-Arab Partnership

Former Knesset member Yoav Segalovitch announced on Monday that he is personally joining the United Arab List (Ra'am) party, led by Mansour Abbas. The unusual political move, revealed at a press conference in Nazareth, aims to foster a Jewish-Arab political partnership despite ideological differences.

Abbas stated that Ra'am is not afraid of partnership and is actively seeking it to create change. He addressed potential questions about why an Arab party would need a Jewish figure, explaining that he seeks individuals capable of doing the work, not necessarily those who are similar to him. Abbas emphasized that this initiative is not solely for the Arab community but is a joint effort by Jews and Arabs focused on shared action, concluding, "Tonight, hope won."

Segalovitch clarified that he is not abandoning his own worldview, which he described as Zionist and rooted in Jewish values, citing the Declaration of Independence as his compass. He believes political cooperation is possible between people with different perspectives, stating, "I am not going to change Mansour and Ra'am, and they will not change me, but we can cooperate politically based on trust, recognition of differences, and commitment to joint action." He stressed that he is joining Ra'am as an individual, not with a faction, aiming to break existing political paradigms.

Segalovitch also addressed the historical tensions and differing narratives between Jews and Arabs in Israel, asserting that leadership's role is to change reality and build a better future. He noted that progress stems from understanding differences, not from similarity. Key areas for joint action include combating crime, healthcare, welfare, planning and construction, and other civil issues. He contrasted the political system's use of fear with their intention to offer hope, stating, "We want to offer hope. You just need to lift your head and look, it exists."

Regarding LGBTQ+ issues, Segalovitch confirmed that his stance has not changed and that Abbas's position also remains the same.