Jerusalem (AFP) - The leader of the United Arab List party announced on Monday evening that former police officer Yoav Segalovich had joined its ranks to run in the upcoming elections on October 27, in a step considered the first of its kind in Israel.

Published on: 08/31/2026 - 22:05

Party leader Mansour Abbas said in a press conference in the northern city of Nazareth, “Yoav Segalovich will join the United Arab List. It is not an easy decision, and I am not presenting it to you as such, but it is a serious decision.”

In turn, Sigalovich, who was present alongside him, said, “There is a difficult history between Arabs and Jews in this country, but there is also a common future in all areas of life.”

He added, "Is it possible to establish political cooperation between people so different? I believe so... based on trust, recognition of our differences, and commitment to joint action."

The latest opinion polls give the United Arab List between five and six seats out of 120 seats in the Knesset.

Yoav Segalovich previously supervised anti-corruption efforts, then headed the intelligence department of the Israeli police, and was a member of the centrist Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party led by Yair Lapid, the current opposition leader.

He was elected to the Knesset in 2019, and two years later was appointed Deputy Minister of National Security in the two coalition governments led by Naftali Bennett (right) and Yair Lapid (center), respectively.

Mansour Abbas, the leader of the moderate Islamist United Arab List party, had at the time provided unprecedented support to the two governments, and secured the promise of a five-year plan worth billions of shekels to support the significant Arab minority in Israel, which consists of the children and grandchildren of the Palestinians who remained in their lands when Israel was established in 1948.

Many Israeli Arabs considered that agreement a betrayal, and many Jewish voters criticized Naftali Bennett for forming the unusual alliance.

The Likud Party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responded in a statement in which it said, "Even Segalovich will not be able to hide the fact that Mansour Abbas refuses to recognize the Hamas and Hezbollah movements as terrorist organizations, and is pushing for the establishment of a Palestinian state."

© 2026 AFP

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