Mansour Abbas

Mansour Abbas is the chairman of the Ra'am party and a central figure in the shift toward civic pragmatism within Arab-Israeli politics. He gained national prominence by breaking the long-standing taboo against Arab parties joining an Israeli governing coalition, eventually becoming a key component of the 36th government (the 'change government') under Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Abbas advocates for a focus on civil issues—such as housing, crime in Arab society, and infrastructure—over the traditional nationalist focus of other Arab-Israeli factions.

Recent developments highlight Abbas's continued focus on the enforcement of building laws and the demolition of unauthorized structures. In July 2026, Abbas claimed that during his time in the change government, only four homes were demolished, contrasting this with the 5,700 structures he alleges have been razed under the current right-wing coalition. This narrative is supported by fellow Ra'am MK Yasser Houjirat, who stated that Abbas effectively halted demolitions of illegal buildings during his tenure.

As of August 2026, Abbas has signaled that his primary objective is the replacement of the current right-wing government. While engaged in talks with figures such as former MK Yoav Segalowitz, he has indicated that formal political alliances will wait until after the party's August primaries. Reports have surfaced concerning his attendance at conferences alongside figures associated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, leading to police complaints and criticism from security-first advocates. Despite these controversies, Abbas remains a defining figure in the debate over the role of Arab parties in the Jewish state's sovereign institutions, balancing his religious identity as a leader in the Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement with his role as a pragmatic Israeli legislator. Most recently, a potential deal to revive the Joint List with other Arab factions collapsed due to disputes over the electoral slate order, though Abbas noted any such alliance could split post-election to allow Ra'am coalition flexibility.