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Members of Knesset Mansour Abbas and Ahmad Tibi walking outside the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, June 3, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Palestinians could decide Israel’s election. But their parties are at a stalemate

Core disputes over how to utilize political power may not be resolved in time to form a new Joint List — and competing parties are ready to capitalize.

By Samah Watad July 24, 2026

Hadash MK Ayman Odeh and Ta'al MK Ahmad Tibi seen during a Hadash–Ta'al faction meeting, at the Knesset in Jerusalem, June 10, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Can a renewed Joint List survive until Israel’s elections?

The leaders of Israel’s four Arab parties say they agree on the importance of a unified electoral alliance. Yet they remain divided on the terms of the pact.

By Samah Salaime April 14, 2026

Activists protest in Tel Aviv demanding an end to the war in Gaza, August 23, 2025. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)

To confront Israeli fascism, we need a new Jewish-Arab party

I have seen firsthand the limitations of existing Arab parties. If we want to bring about real change in this land, an entirely new political model is required.

By Basheer Karkabi February 11, 2026

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Activists from Standing Together protest against the Gaza war, in Tel Aviv, January 16, 2025. (Yahel Gazit)

Can Standing Together bear the weight of its contradictions?

The Jewish-Arab movement is celebrating its 10th anniversary after a period of rapid expansion. But as it grows, so do questions about its political stances, its electoral ambitions, and the limits of binational organizing.

By Samah Watad December 19, 2025

Members of the Joint list are seen during celebrations in the headquarters of Joint List in the city of Nazareth, on the night of the Israeli general elections, March 17, 2015. (Akrm Drawshi/Activestills)

What can the Joint List teach us about building Palestinian political power?

Ten years after its formation, this experiment in Palestinian unity inside Israel — and its ultimate collapse — shows the need for carefully cultivated alliances.

By Rida Abu Rass May 23, 2025

MK Ayman Odeh attends a plenum session at the Knesset in Jerusalem, July 10, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Facing war and incitement, is there any hope left for Palestinians in the Knesset?

The Gaza war has revived a longstanding debate among Palestinian citizens of Israel about whether to participate in or boycott the parliament.

By Baker Zoubi June 6, 2024

Members of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel and Arab parliament members hold a press conference at a protest tent in front of the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem regarding violence in their community, November 3, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

‘The government’s goal is to leave Palestinians in Israel without leadership’

Despite criticisms of the body, Palestinian citizens view efforts to outlaw the High Follow-Up Committee as a dangerous attack on their political rights.

By Baker Zoubi August 10, 2023

MK Ahmad Tibi reacts during a discussion and a vote on The vote on the "Flag Bill" in the Knesset, Jerusalem, June 1, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

The Israeli right is planning to ban Palestinian parties. Here’s how

If the Netanyahu government secures a forever majority, it will bolster the argument that an apartheid regime reigns between the river and the sea.

By Sawsan Zaher March 23, 2023

Yael Lerer. (Rabeea Eid)

The Israeli bringing the fight for justice in Israel-Palestine to France’s parliament

After years in the Israeli radical left, Yael Lerer wants to replace a Netanyahu ally as the representative of French citizens in the eastern Mediterranean.

By Deborah Leter March 21, 2023

Avrum Burg (left) and Faisal Azaiza (right), co-chairs of the new All its Citizens party, at the public launch event in Tel Aviv, December 16, 2022. (Oren Ziv)

Can a new Jewish-Arab party breathe life into the Israeli left?

'All its Citizens' wants to unite the left in Israel around the principle of complete equality for all. But can they even agree on what that looks like?

By Ben Reiff December 21, 2022

Members of the Joint List arrive for a meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, as Rivlin begins consulting political leaders to decide who to task with trying to form a new government, September 22, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The Joint List is dead. Who will lead the fight for Palestinian citizens?

The re-fragmentation of Palestinian parties in Israel exemplifies the lack of a political compass to guide their struggle, with the public divided on how to confront both a far-right government and a broken liberation movement.

By Amjad Iraqi November 7, 2022

Itamar Ben Gvir, head of Otzma Yehudit, celebrates with his supporters at an election night party, Jerusalem, November 1, 2022. (Oren Ziv)

The Kahanists won. Here’s how the left can rebuild

The results of the latest Israeli election are bleak. But amid the despair are clues to the way forward.

By Haggai Matar November 2, 2022

Members of the Joint List arrive for a meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at the President's Residence, Jerusalem, September 22, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The forgotten role of Palestinian citizens in Israel’s coalition wars

Contrary to popular belief, Arab parties have been backing prime ministerial candidates for decades. But what did they gain from the political game?

By Wadea Awawdy October 27, 2022