A casual viewer of Israel's campaign advertising might believe the gravest threat to the country's future is Mansour Abbas, a dentist-turned-politician who heads the Islamist United Arab List, or Raam. For months, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has featured Mr. Abbas in campaign ads, warning Jewish voters that if he is voted out, Mr. Abbas will wield real power in the next government and push for a Palestinian state.
Mr. Abbas's stated priorities, however, have little to do with the West Bank and Gaza. He focuses instead on Israel's Arab citizens, who make up about 20 percent of the population and face violent crime and discriminatory housing policies. His influence is significant because Israel's multiparty system means opposition leaders may need his support to form a coalition large enough to unseat Mr. Netanyahu. That makes him arguably the most influential Arab politician Israel has had.
Raam, created in 1996 by a branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, is socially conservative, which makes its alliance with liberal parties unusual. Mr. Abbas says he wants to replace what he calls "this racist, fascist government" with one in which Arab citizens are "partners" with a real voice and influence. He first drew attention in 2021 by negotiating with Mr. Netanyahu before allying with his opponents to oust him instead. After the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, he condemned the violence, helped house Israelis fleeing the Gaza border, and repeatedly denounced Hamas.
Now, as the Oct. 27 election approaches, Mr. Abbas faces attacks from all sides. Mr. Netanyahu's allies call him a terrorist sympathizer, Zionist opposition leaders are distancing themselves from him, and rival Arab parties accuse him of selling out. Undeterred, he continues to press his message of partnership.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing