Ra'am, led by MK Mansour Abbas, will hold its first-ever primary elections on August 22 to choose the party's Knesset slate. The party says the conference finalises its organisational setup and satisfies constitutional requirements. Ra'am frames the vote as a political milestone aimed at strengthening institutions, expanding membership, and increasing its public reach amid criticism of the current government's policies.
Mansour Abbas's Ra'am To Hold First-Ever Primaries On August 22 To Select Knesset Candidates
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Ra'am, the United Arab List led by MK Mansour Abbas, announced it will hold primary elections for the first time in the party's history on August 22. Party members will vote at a conference to determine the list of candidates who will represent Ra'am in the next Knesset election.
What the Party Says
In an official statement, Ra'am described the conference as part of completing its organisational preparations and as fulfilling the party’s constitutional requirements. The party called the event a significant organisational and political milestone that will formalise its internal structure and procedures.
Ra'am Party leader Mansour Abbas casts his vote at a voting station in Maghar, during the Knesset Elections, on November 1, 2022. (credit: JAMAL AWAD/FLASH90)
Why This Matters
Ra'am says the primaries are intended to strengthen the party’s institutions, expand membership, and broaden its public presence across municipal communities and regions of Arab society. The party framed the move as especially important amid what it described as "the unprecedented racist policies and practices of the Netanyahu-Ben-Gvir-Smotrich government," and stressed its intention to work to replace the current coalition and become an active partner in any new administration.
"The conference completes our organisational preparations and meets our constitutional obligations," the party said.
Context: Ra'am is now the fourth Israeli party to hold primaries, joining Yair Golan's The Democrats, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud. The vote represents an internal shift toward more participatory candidate selection within the party.
Photo: Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas casts his vote at a polling station in Maghar during the November 1, 2022 Knesset elections. (Credit: Jamal Awad / Flash90)
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