Party Profile: Ra'am (Mansour Abbas)
Profile of Ra'am, the Islamist party led by Mansour Abbas, its candidate list, platform and coalition stance.
Ra'am, the United Arab List led by Mansour Abbas, averaged 5.2 seats in polls from 24 September to 7 October 2026. It runs apart from the Joint List this year. This profile covers its list, platform and its willingness to join or back a government.
Who they are
Ra'am (the United Arab List) is the Islamist party led by Mansour Abbas, 52. In 2021 it became the first independent Arab party to sit in an Israeli governing coalition, under Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. This year it runs on its own, apart from the Joint List.
| Leader | Mansour Abbas |
| Ballot letter | עם (Ayin-Mem) |
| Poll average (24 Sep to 7 Oct) | 5.2 seats |
| Camp | Arab parties |
| Space | Islamist, conservative on social issues, focused on Arab-sector budgets and crime |
| Coalition stance | Open to joining or backing a government that delivers for Arab citizens |
The Supreme Court cleared the party to run, unanimously. Ra'am's weight is its willingness to negotiate, which the Joint List refuses to do.
The list: who is likely to get in
At about 5 seats the top five are in. Slot 6 is on the edge.
| # | Name | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansour Abbas | 52 |
| 2 | Yoav Segalovitz | 67 |
| 3 | Walid Taha | 58 |
| 4 | Walid al-Huashla | 44 |
| 5 | Iman Khatib-Yassin | 61 |
| 6 | Yasser Hujirat | 60 |
| 7 | Ibrahim al-Turi (spelling unverified) | n/a |
| 8 | Abd al-Karim al-Masri (spelling unverified) | n/a |
Mansour Abbas (1). Party leader and a dentist by training. He led Ra'am into the 2021 coalition and has argued since that Arab parties should seek influence from inside government. He has said he is ready to work with any government that meets the Arab community's needs.
Yoav Segalovitz (2). 67. He is a Jewish candidate who joins the slate and the Knesset faction, but not the party itself. His place at number two is a signal that Ra'am wants to reach beyond its base.
Walid Taha (3). A sitting MK, 58.
Walid al-Huashla (4). A sitting MK, 44.
Iman Khatib-Yassin (5). A sitting MK, 61. One of the few women in a realistic slot on an Arab party list.
Yasser Hujirat (6). A sitting MK, 60, from the Negev-Galilee area.
Others on the list. Slots 7 and 8 have thinner public profiles. I could not verify the English spelling of those names.
Note: check the final list against the Central Elections Committee publication.
Platform and coalition plans
| Issue | Position |
|---|---|
| Arab sector | Budgets, planning and housing, and a stronger response to crime |
| Social issues | Conservative |
| Coalition | Willing to join or back a government if it delivers |
| Palestinian issue | Supports a political solution, with less emphasis than the Joint List |
Ra'am is the party that could make a difference in the coalition math. A bloc that includes Arab-party support from outside or inside needs to cross 61 in a different way. Whether the Zionist opposition would accept Ra'am is the open question. Liberman has ruled out Arab parties altogether. See the Election Math article for how this changes the camps.
Sources: Supreme Court ruling clearing the party; party list filings; Israeli media poll tracking, 24 Sept to 7 Oct.
Frequently asked questions
Who leads Ra'am?
Mansour Abbas, 52 and a dentist by training, leads Ra'am. In 2021 the party became the first independent Arab party to sit in an Israeli governing coalition, under Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.
What is Ra'am's ballot letter?
Ra'am's ballot letter is Ayin-Mem (עם). Ra'am runs on its own this year, apart from the Joint List. Its poll average from 24 September to 7 October is 5.2 seats.
Will Ra'am join a government?
Ra'am is open to joining or backing a government that delivers for Arab citizens. The Joint List refuses to negotiate. Avigdor Liberman has ruled out Arab parties, and the Zionist opposition has not agreed to depend on Ra'am.
Was Ra'am allowed to run in 2026?
Yes. The Supreme Court cleared the party to run, unanimously. The page says Ra'am's weight is its willingness to negotiate, which the Joint List refuses to do.
Cite this page: The Israel Gazette. “Party Profile: Ra'am (Mansour Abbas).” Updated 9 October 2026. https://israelgazette.com/election/party-profile-raam-mansour-abbas/