Joint List to soon launch without Ra'am, deal in final stages, Hadash-Ta'al leader tells 'Post'

Hadash, Ta'al and Balad are set to officially revive the Joint List this week without Ra'am, according to Hadash-Ta'al chairman Yousef Jabareen. The alliance aims to replace the current government and remove PM Netanyahu. The parties empowered a Consensus Committee to finalize the Knesset slate by end of week. Ra'am remains outside for now but could join before elections scheduled no later than October 27.

Hadash, Ta'al and Balad are expected to officially revive the Joint List this week without Ra'am, according to Hadash-Ta'al chairman Yousef Jabareen in an interview with The Jerusalem Post. Jabareen, who replaced Ayman Odeh after May primaries, will lead the party's list. The alliance marks a setback in efforts to reunite all major Arab parties under one slate, as Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, remains outside for now. Jabareen said the door remains open for Ra'am to join before elections scheduled no later than October 27. The parties empowered a Consensus Committee to finalize the Knesset slate by end of week to avoid prolonged negotiations. Jabareen acknowledged that running separately from Ra'am would make the campaign more challenging, as a single list would have boosted Arab voter turnout. He stressed that a main objective is to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from government, describing the current government as 'very dangerous' and threatening Arab rights. The new Joint List will push for a Palestinian state, equality for Arab citizens, and combating organized crime in Arab communities. Jabareen said any cooperation with opposition figures like Yashar's Gadi Eisenkot or B'Yachad's Naftali Bennett would depend on negotiations over the party's principles.