In major shift, Yesh Atid MK reportedly set to run as No. 2 in Mansour Abbas’s Ra’am party

In a notable political realignment, Yesh Atid member of Knesset Yoav Segalovitz is reportedly preparing to run as the second candidate on the electoral list of Mansour Abbas’s Ra’am party in the upcoming Israeli elections. This decision marks a pivotal moment for Ra’am, traditionally an Arab Islamist party, which has recently moved away from its religious foundations to broaden its appeal. Segalovitz’s candidacy would make him the first Jewish candidate on Ra’am’s list, signaling a strategic pivot toward inclusivity and cross-community cooperation. Segalovitz, a former senior police official and former deputy public security minister, is currently on vacation in Thailand. Upon returning next week, he plans to meet with Abbas to formalize his entry into the party. According to a source within the Arab community connected to Segalovitz, he will occupy the second position on Ra’am’s electoral list. This placement increases the likelihood of his return to the Knesset, given the party’s consistent polling of approximately five seats. Additionally, the source indicated that Segalovitz could be Ra’am’s preferred choice for the role of national security minister in a future coalition government. Abbas has initiated internal polling to assess how Segalovitz’s inclusion might affect the party’s electoral prospects. Earlier this year, Abbas announced that Ra’am would transform into a broader, more inclusive party open to Jewish candidates. This shift comes after he stated that the party is finalizing its separation from the religious council it previously aligned with, aiming to establish independent institutions. These changes are intended to enhance Ra’am’s credibility among Zionist-oriented parties ahead of the election. Segalovitz’s career trajectory reflects both his influence and controversy. As a former police major general, he played a key role in reducing violence in Arab communities during his tenure as deputy public security minister in the government that ousted Netanyahu from 2021 to 2022. However, the situation deteriorated significantly under the current government, led by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, resulting in unprecedented levels of violent crime in Arab neighborhoods. Currently, Segalovitz belongs to Yesh Atid, a centrist party that has merged with the center-right “Together” alliance under the leadership of former prime minister Naftali Bennett. Bennett has categorically ruled out Ra’am as a potential coalition partner, despite having co-governed with the party in the past. His stance aligns with his broader vision of a government composed solely of Zionist parties, especially in light of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which he views as a critical juncture requiring unity among like-minded groups. Netanyahu and his allies continue to criticize and marginalize Arab parties, often labeling them as non-Zionist. Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, who is widely regarded as Netanyahu’s main rival, has expressed openness to partnering with any party that supports Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state, respects the Declaration of Independence, and advocates for universal mandatory conscription or national service. Only Yair Golan, leader of the left-wing Democrats, has publicly encouraged other opposition leaders to consider collaborating with Ra’am once more, urging them to cease the vilification of the party.