United Arab List

File:Ballot125.png

The party was established prior to the 1996 election, unrelated to the original United Arab List that existed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was joined in an electoral alliance by the Arab Democratic Party (which held two seats in the outgoing parliament) and the southern faction of the Islamic Movement, led by Sheikh Abdullah Nimar Darwish.{{Cite magazine|title='It's Possible to Do Things Differently.' The Arab Kingmaker Who Joined Israel's Far-Right to Oust Netanyahu|url=https://time.com/6073019/mansour-abbas-arab-israel-coalition-government/|access-date=19 February 2022|magazine=Time|language=en}} The party initially went under the title of Mada-Ra'am, Mada being the acronym and common name for the Arab Democratic Party. In the election, the party won four seats. During the Knesset term, the Arab Democratic Party became a faction within the United Arab List, and its name was dropped from the party title.

The 1999 election saw the party increase its share of the vote and pick up five seats. However, internal disagreements saw three MKs leave; Muhamad Kanan and Tawfik Khatib left and established the Arab National Party, whilst Hashem Mahameed formed the National Unity – National Progressive Alliance party. In the 2003 election, the party's support dropped by more than a third, with the party only just crossing the electoral threshold of 2%, and winning only two seats.

File:United Arab List.svg

For the 2006 election, the party entered an alliance with Ahmad Tibi's Ta'al party. Running together, the alliance won four seats, three of which were taken by the United Arab List. The partys' alliance was maintained for the 2009 election, which initially saw the Israeli Central Elections Committee ban the party from participating,{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-bans-arab-parties-from-running-in-upcoming-elections-1.267987 |title=Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections |newspaper=Haaretz |date=12 January 2009 |access-date=15 June 2015}} but this was overturned by the Supreme Court of Israel.{{cite news |author=Sharon Roffe-Ofir |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3660120,00.html |title=Hadash praises verdict on Arab parties |publisher=Ynetnews |date=21 January 2009 |access-date=15 June 2015}} In the election, the alliance again won four seats. Shortly before the 2013 election, Taleb el-Sana left the party to sit as an independent Arab Democratic Party member.

After the electoral threshold to gain Knesset seats was raised from 2% to 3.25%, the party joined with Hadash, Balad, Ta'al, and the Islamic Movement to form the Joint List for the 2015 election.{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/as-arab-mks-unite-a-new-political-landscape-emerges/ | title=As Arab MKs unite, a new political landscape emerges | work=The Times of Israel | date=28 January 2015 | last1=Hazboun | first1=Areej | last2=Estrin | first2=Daniel |access-date=15 June 2015}} For the April 2019 election, it ran on a list with Balad.{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/full-list-the-parties-and-candidates-running-in-israel-s-election-1.6955905|title=FULL LIST: The Parties and Candidates Running in Israel's Election|date=20 February 2019|work=Haaretz|access-date=23 February 2019|language=en}} The party again ran as part of the Joint List in the 2020 election.{{Cite news |last=Rasgon |first=Adam |title=Headed for 15 seats, Joint List chief claims 'huge' success, cites Jewish voters |language=en-US |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/headed-for-15-seats-joint-list-chief-claims-huge-success-cites-jewish-voters/ |date=3 March 2020|access-date=28 January 2021|work=The Times of Israel}}

In the 2021 elections the party won four seats in the Knesset.{{Cite web|title=Final Israeli election results confirm deadlock|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/26/final-israeli-election-results-confirm-deadlock|access-date=18 February 2022|website=Al Jazeera|language=en}} Within the fragmented political landscape of Israel, these seats gave the party the role of kingmaker in determining the next government after Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form one.{{Cite news|last=Kershner|first=Isabel|date=2 June 2021|title=The Arab party Raam makes history within coalition.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/02/world/middleeast/arab-party-raam-coalition.html|access-date=18 February 2022|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Boxerman|first=Aaron|title=History made as Arab Israeli Ra'am party joins Bennett-Lapid coalition|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-israeli-raam-party-makes-history-by-joining-bennett-lapid-coalition/|access-date=18 February 2022|website=The Times of Israel|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|title=Analysis {{!}} An Islamist party is part of Israel's new coalition government. How did that happen?|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/06/07/an-islamist-party-is-part-israels-new-coalition-government-how-did-that-happen/|access-date=19 February 2022|issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=17 January 2022|title=Arab leader's gamble to play kingmaker in Israel is paying off|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/01/17/1073565965/arab-leaders-gamble-to-play-kingmaker-in-israel-is-paying-off|access-date=18 February 2022}} On 2 June 2021, party leader Mansour Abbas signed an agreement to form a coalition government, the first time an independent Arab party became a member of the Israeli government, and the first time in more than 50 years that any Arab party formed part of the Israeli government; a photograph of Abbas, sitting with Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett, signing the coalition agreement was widely circulated.{{Cite news|last1=Kingsley|first1=Patrick|last2=Rasgon|first2=Adam|date=3 June 2021|title=Fragile Israeli Coalition to Oust Netanyahu Faces Growing Pressure|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/06/03/world/israel-prime-minister|access-date=18 February 2022|issn=0362-4331}} The agreement included guarantees that more than 53 billion shekels (US$16 billion) would be spent to improve infrastructure and reduce crime in Arab towns, provisions protecting homes built without permits in Arab villages, and recognition for Bedouin towns in the Negev desert.{{Cite news|last=Rasgon|first=Adam|date=10 June 2021|title=A New Israeli Government Could Mean Help for Neglected Bedouin Villages|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/10/world/middleeast/israel-government-bedouin-villages.html|access-date=19 February 2022|issn=0362-4331}}

On 28 October 2021, the cabinet approved a plan to spend US$9.4 billion to improve employment opportunities and health services for Israeli Arabs and improve housing, technology, and infrastructure in Arab areas;{{Cite news|date=25 October 2021|title=Israeli cabinet backs huge spending plan for Arab minority|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59039911|access-date=19 February 2022}}{{Cite news|title=Five-year Plan for Israel's Arab Community: $9 Billion Won't Bridge a Gap Decades in the Making|language=en|work=Haaretz|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-five-year-plan-for-israel-s-arab-community-9-billion-won-t-bridge-the-gap-1.10329395|access-date=19 February 2022}} it included a further US$1 billion to address high crime rates in Arab areas.{{Cite web|last=Boxerman|first=Aaron|title=Cabinet okays NIS 32 billion to develop Arab Israeli economy, fight crime|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/cabinet-okays-over-nis-32-billion-to-develop-arab-israeli-economy-fight-crime/|access-date=19 February 2022|website=The Times of Israel|language=en-US}} In the scale of funding range of issues in the Arab community addressed, the plan had little precedent in Israeli history, and Abbas and Ra'am were widely credited with pushing forward what Abbas called a "historic step" forward for Arab Israelis.{{Cite web|last=Boxerman|first=Aaron|title=As unprecedented billions planned for under-served Arabs, devil's in the details|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-unprecedented-billions-planned-for-under-served-arabs-devils-in-the-details/|access-date=19 February 2022|website=The Times of Israel|language=en-US}} The plan was signed into law when the budget passed on 4 November.{{Cite web|last1=Wootliff|first1=Raoul|last2=staff|first2=T. O. I.|title=Coalition passes 2021 budget, first in 3.5 years, averting early election threat|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/coalition-passes-2021-budget-first-in-years-as-rest-of-vote-a-thon-awaits/|access-date=19 February 2022|website=The Times of Israel|language=en-US}}

At the United Arab List's urging the coalition government recognized several Bedouin villages and connected thousands of previously-illegal homes to the electrical grid.{{Cite web|last=Boxerman|first=Aaron|title=Government legalizes 3 unrecognized Bedouin towns, fulfilling Ra'am's pledge|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/government-legalizes-3-unrecognized-bedouin-towns-fulfilling-raams-pledge/|access-date=19 February 2022|website=The Times of Israel|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=3 Bedouin villages to be recognized, receive infrastructure|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/3-bedouin-villages-to-be-recognized-receive-infrastructure-682730|access-date=19 February 2022|website=The Jerusalem Post|language=en-US}}

In the 2022 Knesset elections the party won five seats, gaining an additional seat. The party received most of its votes in Bedouin and Sunni Muslim towns.{{Cite web|url=https://elections.kaplanopensource.co.il/|title=מפת הבחירות לכנסת ה-25|website=Kaplan Open Source}}

Ra'am is an Islamist party.{{cite news |last1= Grossman |first1= Guy |last2= Manekin |first2= Devorah |date= 7 June 2021 |title= An Islamist party is part of Israel’s new coalition government. How did that happen? |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/06/07/an-islamist-party-is-part-israels-new-coalition-government-how-did-that-happen/ |work= The Washington Post |access-date= 24 January 2024 |quote= ... the Islamist Ra’am party.}}{{cite news|date= 12 January 2022 |title= Israel moves to resolve crisis after Bedouins protest |url= https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-israel-trees-plants-bedouin-56714e3ac267c12d63abfcde65452c68 |work= The Associated Press |access-date= 24 January 2024 |quote= ... the Islamist Ra’am party ...}}{{cite news |last= Strawson |first= John |date= 30 March 2021 |title= Israeli election: Mansour Abbas emerges as possible first Arab kingmaker in nation’s history |url= https://theconversation.com/israeli-election-mansour-abbas-emerges-as-possible-first-arab-kingmaker-in-nations-history-158155 |work= The Conversation |access-date= 24 January 2024 |quote= Islamist Ra’am}}{{cite news |last= Kershner |first= Isabel |date= 27 August 2022 |title= Lessons Learned, Israel’s Unlikely Islamist Kingmaker Looks Ahead |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/27/world/middleeast/israel-government-mansour-abbas.html |work= The New York Times |access-date= 24 January 2024 |quote= Mansour Abbas, the leader of a small Islamist party called Raam ...}} It has been described as a "religious Arab Muslim party".{{cite web |url= https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/raam/ |title= Ra’am (United Arab List) |website= ecfr.eu |access-date= 24 January 2024}}

Under Abbas's direction, the party advocates for the full-fledged political involvement with the domestic politics of Israel in order to improve the quality of life of Arab Israelis, particularly with respect to crime, employment opportunities, housing, and infrastructure; this is a departure from other Arab parties, which historically form part of the opposition and focus on the larger Israeli–Palestinian conflict.{{Cite news|last=Kingsley|first=Patrick|date=4 July 2021|title=As Secular Peace Effort Stutters in Israel, Religious Mediators Hope to Step In|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/04/world/Israel-peace-islamists-raam-party.html|access-date=19 February 2022|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite magazine|date=22 October 2021|title=The Arab-Israeli Power Broker in the Knesset|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/01/the-arab-israeli-power-broker-in-the-knesset|access-date=19 February 2022|magazine=The New Yorker|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=17 January 2022|title=Arab leader's gamble to play kingmaker in Israel is paying off|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/01/17/1073565965/arab-leaders-gamble-to-play-kingmaker-in-israel-is-paying-off|access-date=19 February 2022}}{{Cite news|title=Why 1 Arab Party Joined Israel's Coalition Government But The Other Did Not|language=en|publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/06/17/1007493965/why-1-arab-party-joined-israels-coalition-government-but-the-other-did-not|access-date=19 February 2022}}[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/2/analysis-can-united-arab-list-change-israeli-politics Can United Arab List change Israeli politics from within?] Al Jazeera, 2 July 2021

The party supports the two-state solution, and the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Its constituency consists mostly of religious or nationalist Israeli Arabs, and enjoys particular popularity among the Negev Bedouin: in the 2009 election, 80% of residents of Bedouin communities voted for the party.{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/how-they-voted-see-israel-election-results-by-city-sector-1.269923 |title=How They Voted: See Israel election results by city/sector |newspaper=Haaretz |date=17 February 2009 |access-date=15 June 2015}} However, it has been said that the party does "not emphasise the need to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories".{{cite news |last= AlTaher |first= Nada |date= 24 June 2021 |title= Ra’am: who are Israel’s first Arab party in government? |url= https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/ra-am-who-are-israel-s-first-arab-party-in-government-1.1248411 |work= The National (Abu Dhabi) |access-date= 24 January 2024}}

The Islamic Movement also operates in poor Arab towns and villages, as well as in Bedouin settlements, to mobilize voters. The southern faction of the Islamic Movement is now the dominant force in the party, whilst other factions include the Arab National Party. The Islamic Movement's advisory religious body, known as the Majlis-ash-Shura (Shura Council), has guided the party's votes in parliament.{{cite news |last=Ayyub |first=Rami |date=3 June 2021 |title=Arab Islamist helps clinch Israel's new anti-Netanyahu government |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/arab-islamist-helps-clinch-israels-new-anti-netanyahu-government-2021-06-03/ |agency=Reuters |access-date=18 September 2022}}

According to The Times of Israel, the party and its leader Mansour Abbas hold a "virulently anti-gay outlook" and have "regularly disparaged gay people with an Arabic slur meaning 'perverts'".{{cite news |last= Boxerman |first= Aaron |date= 25 March 2021 |title= How Islamist Ra’am broke Arab politics and may win the keys to the government |url= https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-islamist-raam-broke-arab-politics-and-may-win-the-keys-to-the-government/ |work= The Times of Israel |access-date= 24 January 2024}}

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center

!Election

!Leader

!Votes

!%

!Seats

!+/–

!Status

|-

! 1996{{efn |name=Mada|Ra'am–Mada alliance}}

| align=left rowspan="3"|Abdulmalik Dehamshe

| 89,514

| 2.93

| {{Composition bar|2|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| –

| {{no2|Opposition}}

|-

! 1999{{efn |name=Mada}}

| 114,810

| 3.49

| {{Composition bar|3|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

| {{no2|Opposition}}

|-

! 2003{{efn |name=Mada}}

| 65,551

| 2.08

| {{Composition bar|1|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| {{decrease}} 2

| {{no2|Opposition}}

|-

! 2006{{efn |name=Taal|Ra'am–Mada–Ta'al alliance}}

| align=left rowspan="3"|Ibrahim Sarsur

| 94,786

| 3.02

| {{Composition bar|2|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

| {{no2|Opposition}}

|-

! 2009{{efn |name=Taal}}

| 113,954

| 3.38

| {{Composition bar|2|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| {{steady}}

| {{no2|Opposition}}

|-

! 2013{{efn |Ra'am–Ta'al alliance}}

| 138,450

| 3.65

| {{Composition bar|3|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

| {{no2|Opposition}}

|-

! 2015

| align=left| Masud Ghnaim

| align=center colspan="2"|with Joint List

| {{Composition bar|4|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

| {{no2|Opposition}}

|-

! Apr 2019{{efn |Ra'am–Balad alliance}}

| align=left rowspan="5"|Mansour Abbas

| 143,666

| 3.31

| {{Composition bar|2|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| {{decrease}} 2

| {{partial2|Snap election}}

|-

! Sep 2019

| align=center colspan="2"|with Joint List

| {{Composition bar|3|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

| {{partial2|Snap election}}

|-

! 2020

| align=center colspan="2"|with Joint List

| {{Composition bar|4|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

| {{no2|Opposition}}

|-

! 2021

| 167,064

| 3.79

| {{Composition bar|4|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| {{steady}}

| {{yes2|Coalition}}

|-

! 2022

| 193,916

| 4.07

| {{Composition bar|5|120|hex={{party color|United Arab List}}}}

| {{increase}} 1

| {{no2|Opposition}}

|-

|}

{{notelist}}

• Mansour Abbas
• Walid Taha
• Walid al-Huashla
• Iman Khatib-Yasin
• Yasser Hujirat

• Taleb el-Sana (1996–2012)
• Abdulmalik Dehamshe (1996–2006)
• Mazen Ghnaim (2021–2022)
• Muhamad Kanan (1999–2001)
• Tawfik Khatib (1996–2001)
• Hashem Mahameed (1999–2002)
• Ibrahim Sarsur (2006–2019)
• Masud Ghnaim (2009–2019)
• Taleb Abu Arar (2013–2019)
• Abd al-Hakim Hajj Yahya (2019–2020)
• Said al-Harumi (2017–2021)

• Arab members of the Knesset

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20210329115422/http://almwahda.com/sign/}} (archived)
• [http://www.islammov.com/ Islamic Movement] {{in lang|ar}}
• [https://www.knesset.gov.il/faction/eng/FactionPage_eng.asp?PG=106 United Arab List] Knesset website

{{Arab citizens of Israel footer|uncollapsed}}

{{Islamism}}

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Category:1996 establishments in Israel

Category:Arab political parties in Israel

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