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Will a united Israeli Arab party survive elections?

Despite huge ideological gaps, Arab parties in Israel are trying to form a joint list for the election, but their traditional voter base might not follow.
Knesset (parliament) member Israeli Arab Ahmad Tibi campaigns seeking reelection ahead of Israel's general elections in the Israeli Arab town of Umm al-Fahm on January 14, 2013.  Arab-Israelis, descendants of the 160,000 Palestinians who stayed on after the creation of Israel in 1948, make up 20 percent of the population. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD GHARABLI        (Photo credit should read AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images)
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One controversial issue alone has so far prevented the declaration of the establishment of a joint Arab list ahead of the March 17 elections for the 20th Knesset. There is still disagreement on who will be named 12th on the merged list — a place that is considered feasible, provided all the Arab parties really run on a joint ticket.

Knesset member Ahmad Tibi demands that the place be kept for his party, Ta'al, while Hadash insists on having the place reserved for its representative. Al-Monitor got hold of the list drafted by the leaders of the Arab parties on which they have agreed, with the exception, as aforesaid, of the still disputed 12th place.

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