Joint List did not sing the Palestinian anthem; its political positions pose far bigger challenges

The Times of Israel reports that a video of the Joint List singing 'Biladi Biladi' was falsely claimed by Netanyahu to be the Palestinian anthem. The article clarifies the song is Hadash's unofficial anthem, written by Druze poet Samih al-Qasim, and notes that the Joint List's anti-Zionist platform poses greater challenges for coalition cooperation.

A video showing the Arabic song 'Biladi Biladi' being sung at a Joint List campaign event has sparked controversy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu falsely claimed it was the Palestinian national anthem, which includes calls for revenge. The Times of Israel reports that the song is actually the unofficial anthem of Hadash, a left-wing Arab party within the Joint List, written by Druze poet Samih al-Qasim. The song's lyrics express love for the homeland and reference oppression, but do not call for revenge. The article notes that the Joint List's political positions, including its anti-Zionist platform and refusal to label Hamas a terrorist organization, pose greater challenges for potential cooperation with Zionist parties seeking to form a government without Netanyahu. The Joint List won 11 seats in the 2026 election, alongside Ra'am's eight seats.