Skip to main content

Arab parties push for unity ahead of Israeli elections

As the Knesset prepares to debate proposed laws that would significantly damage political activity by the Palestinian parties, Arab members weigh their options while debating ways to increase their collective power in parliament.
Israeli Arab Knesset (parliament) member Hanin Zuabi arrives to the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on December 27, 2012, for a hearing regarding the Election Committee's decision to disqualify her from contending in the upcoming elections. AFP  PHOTO/GALI TIBBON        (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images)
Read in 

RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Knesset voted on Dec. 8 to dissolve itself as a prelude to the elections to be held on March 17, 2015. These elections will pose a major challenge for the Arab parties, as they will have to pass the new election threshold that has been raised from 2% to 3.25% to face a wave of controversial bills that the next Knesset will study, including the Jewish state bill and the pledge of allegiance to the Jewish state bill.

Al-Monitor learned that the Arab parties in Israel have begun consultations and meetings to form a unified list to run in the next Knesset elections.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.