Jewish Ex-Cop Joins Arab-Led Ra'am Party in Bid to Form Israeli Coalition

Key points

• Yoav Segalovitz, a 67-year-old Jewish ex-cop and self-described Zionist, will represent the Arab-led Ra'am party in the Knesset.
• Ra'am won eight seats in the October 27 election, contributing to a total of 18 seats for Arab-led parties, an unprecedented number.
• Segalovitz left a centrist Jewish-led party to join Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, to demonstrate cross-ethnic political cooperation.
• Right-wing critics, including Netanyahu’s allies, condemned the move as a betrayal and a step toward Islamic law, while some left-wing Arab parties dismissed it as mere branding.
• Netanyahu’s bloc failed to secure a majority, leaving the possibility of a coalition with Arab-led parties to form a government, though Jewish-led opposition parties have set strict conditions for such alliances.

Background

This development occurs amid broader international debates on Islamist political influence, as seen in the European Parliament’s recent resolution against 'Islamist entryism' and internal UK party disputes over Zionism. In Israel, the election is viewed as a referendum on Netanyahu, with Arab citizens, who make up over 20% of the population, feeling increasingly marginalized. Previous attempts at Arab-Jewish coalitions, such as the 2021 government, were short-lived, highlighting the difficulty of such partnerships.

Why it matters

The inclusion of a Jewish member in an Arab-led party tests the limits of Israeli political pluralism and could determine whether a coalition forms to remove Netanyahu. It highlights the potential for cross-ethnic cooperation to address issues like underinvestment in Arab communities and gang violence, while also exposing deep-seated distrust and political asymmetries in Israeli society.

What to watch

Segalovitz and other Ra'am lawmakers will be sworn in on November 10. The formation of a governing coalition remains uncertain, as Jewish-led opposition parties, including Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc, have imposed conditions on Arab-led parties, such as recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and condemning Hamas. Weeks or months may pass before it is clear if Ra'am joins the government or remains in opposition.