Party Profile: The Joint List (Hadash, Ta'al, Balad)
Profile of the Joint List alliance of Hadash, Ta'al and Balad, its candidate list, platform and coalition stance.
The Joint List is the alliance of Hadash, Ta'al and Balad, headed by Yousef Jabareen. It averaged 7.6 seats in polls from 24 September to 7 October 2026. The Supreme Court overturned the attempted ban on 2 October. This profile covers its list and platform.
Who they are
The Joint List is the alliance of the Arab-majority parties Hadash, Ta'al and Balad. It first ran in 2015 and won 15 seats in 2020. Ra'am, the Islamist party, runs separately this time. See its own profile.
| Leader | Yousef Jabareen (list head) |
| Ballot letter | ודם (Vav-Dalet-Mem) |
| Poll average (24 Sep to 7 Oct) | 7.6 seats |
| Camp | Arab parties |
| Space | Left, Arab-nationalist and Arab-Jewish, anti-occupation |
| Coalition stance | Will not join a Zionist coalition, but could back one from outside |
The Supreme Court overturned the attempted ban on the list unanimously on 2 Oct. It overturned the ban on Ofer Cassif by a vote of 7-2.
The list: who is likely to get in
This is the filed order. Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew on 2 Oct and his slot was not refilled. If everyone below simply moves up, which is my arithmetic and not an official order, about the top seven or eight names get in at 7.6 seats.
| # | Name | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yousef Jabareen | 54 |
| 2 | Ahmad Tibi | 67 |
| 3 | Sami Abu Shehadeh (withdrew 2 Oct) | n/a |
| 4 | Faten Ghattas | n/a |
| 5 | Bakr Awawdeh | n/a |
| 6 | Ofer Cassif | 61 |
| 7 | Youssef Atawna | 59 |
| 8 | Maha Karkabi-Sabbah | n/a |
| 9 | Ahmad Darawshe | n/a |
| 10 | Nihaya Washahi | n/a |
| 11 | Hassan Nassasra | n/a |
| 12 | Haitham Zahalka | n/a |
| 13 | Ayas Natour | n/a |
Orly Noy is further down, at 15.
Yousef Jabareen (1). A law professor and Hadash figure, 54. He heads the list.
Ahmad Tibi (2). The head of Ta'al, 67, and one of the best-known Arab politicians in Israel. A doctor by training and a long-time MK, famous for sharp Knesset speeches.
Sami Abu Shehadeh (3). The Balad chair. He withdrew on 2 Oct. Balad is now represented by lower names.
Faten Ghattas (4). She took the slot of Jaafar Farah, who withdrew on 4 Sept.
Ofer Cassif (6). A Jewish Hadash MK, 61, and one of the most left-wing members of the Knesset. The right tried to bar him. The Supreme Court overturned the ban 7-2.
Youssef Atawna (7). A Hadash MK, 59.
Others on the list. Awawdeh (5), Karkabi-Sabbah (8), Darawshe (9), Washahi (10), Nassasra (11), Zahalka (12) and Natour (13) have thinner public profiles in the English sources I could verify.
Note: check the final list against the Central Elections Committee publication.
Platform and coalition plans
| Issue | Position |
|---|---|
| Occupation | End it. Two states. |
| Arab citizens | Equal rights. Repeal the nation-state law. Tackle crime in Arab towns. |
| Gaza | Ceasefire and a political settlement |
| Judiciary | Oppose the overhaul |
| Coalition | Will not join a Zionist government. Could support one from outside to block the right. |
The Joint List does not usually join a coalition. Its leverage is as a blocking vote. Its seats make it harder for the Netanyahu bloc to reach 61, even though the Zionist opposition has not promised to depend on it. See the Election Math article for how Arab-party seats change the arithmetic.
Sources: Supreme Court rulings of 2 Oct; party list filings; Israeli media poll tracking, 24 Sept to 7 Oct.
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the Joint List?
Yousef Jabareen, 54, a law professor and Hadash figure, heads the list. Ahmad Tibi, head of Ta'al, is second. Sami Abu Shehadeh, the Balad chair, withdrew on 2 October.
What is the Joint List's ballot letter?
The Joint List's ballot letter is Vav-Dalet-Mem (ודם). It is the alliance of Hadash, Ta'al and Balad. It first ran in 2015 and won 15 seats in 2020. Ra'am runs separately this time.
Was the Joint List barred from the 2026 election?
No. The Supreme Court unanimously overturned the attempted ban on 2 October. It overturned the ban on Ofer Cassif by a vote of 7-2. Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew the same day.
Will the Joint List join a coalition?
The Joint List will not join a Zionist government but could support one from outside to block the right. The page says its leverage is as a blocking vote.
Cite this page: The Israel Gazette. “Party Profile: The Joint List (Hadash, Ta'al, Balad).” Updated 9 October 2026. https://israelgazette.com/election/party-profile-the-joint-list-hadash-taal-balad/