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Israel's Arab Ra’am party rocked by decision to disperse Knesset

The Arab Ra’am party said clearly last night that they will try to be part of the next Israeli coalition, putting them at odds with the rival Arab Joint List.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Prime Minister Nafrali Bennet and Knesset member Abir Kara attend a weekly Cabinet meeting, Jerusalem, May 29, 2022.

In the past few days, head of the Muslim Ra’am party Mansour Abbas was trying to find a solution over rebel legislator Mazen Ghnaim who was no longer voting with the coalition. Abbas continued his attempts just until the very last moment, when Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Alternative Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid announced that they decided to disperse the current Knesset and call a new election. “We did our utmost to preserve this government,” said Bennett, undoubtedly referring also to the efforts of Abbas to keep his party members in line.

Evidently, Bennett and Lapid blame first and foremost Yamina rebel legislators for the forced decision. According to the rotation agreement, if the government falls because of Yamina members, Lapid will serve as interim prime minister during the transition period up until the new elections, and not Bennett. And indeed, this is what's happening now. Still, it is clear that Abbas regrets recent developments. In May, Abbas said unequivocally, “We won’t lend a hand for toppling the government or dispersing the Knesset.”

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