Full Breakdown
Ra'am Places Former Police Chief Yoav Segalovich Second on Its Electoral List
9/6/2026, 10:47:38 AM
Ra'am's Unprecedented Slate Move
Chairman Mansour Abbas announced that former senior police officer and longtime Yesh Atid politician Yoav Segalovich will occupy the No. 2 slot on Ra'am’s slate for the upcoming Knesset election. This marks the first time a Jewish candidate has been placed second on the list of the Arab-based Islamic Movement party. Segalovich will not formally join Ra'am and will retain the freedom to vote independently on issues of religion and state, security, and LGBT rights, while also promoting civilian service in Arab society.
Strategic Rationale and Internal Poll
Abbas frames the partnership as a bid for legitimacy among centrist Zionist voters. An internal Ra'am poll of 750 Arab citizens found that 75 % identified Segalovich as the Jewish politician most attuned to their needs, suggesting the move could broaden the party’s appeal without alienating its base. Abbas has repeatedly stated that the alliance is intended to demonstrate that partnering with Ra'am is not “political suicide” and to lower the perceived cost of coalition participation for moderate right-wing voters.
Negotiation Dynamics and Role Assignment
Early talks entertained the possibility of appointing Segalovich as national-security minister, but Abbas ultimately settled on a narrower portfolio focused on combating crime and violence—areas where Segalovich has a strong record, notably through the “Safe Track” program. Abbas has emphasized that this role aligns with Ra'am’s priority of improving personal security for Arab citizens and avoids making the security ministry a red-line in coalition talks.
Political Risks and Opposition Critique
Critics within Arab politics argue that placing a Zionist Jew in the second slot blurs Ra’am’s identity and could be used by rivals to question the party’s authenticity. Segalovich also faces a dilemma: emphasizing his Zionist stance may reassure Jewish voters but could alienate Ra’am supporters, while aligning too closely with Ra’am might diminish his standing among centrist voters.
Potential Impact on Coalition Formation
Abbas has signaled a desire to re-enter government, noting that five or six Ra’am seats could be decisive in forming a coalition. By presenting a Jewish partner with a security-focused mandate, Ra’am hopes to shift from opposition rhetoric to a position inside the governing coalition, where budgetary and policing decisions are made. The experiment’s success or failure will likely influence future Arab-Jewish political collaborations in Israel.
