{{Short description|Israeli electoral alliance, 2015 to 2022}} {{For|electoral joint lists in general|electoral alliance}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox political party | name = Joint List | logo = Joint List logo 2019.svg | logo_size = 200 | colorcode = {{party color|Joint List}} | leader = Ayman Odeh | foundation = {{start date|2015|01|23|df=y}}<hr />{{start date|2019|06|20|df=y}} | dissolution = 21 February 2019 (first)<hr />15 September 2022 (second)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/balad-splits-from-joint-list-throwing-arab-electorate-into-disarray/ | title=Balad splits from Joint List, throwing Arab electorate into disarray | website=The Times of Israel }}</ref> | ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap | Israeli Arab interests | '''Factions:''' | Secularism<ref name="timesofisrael">{{cite news |author=Raoul Wootliff|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-arab-mk-says-open-to-joining-gantz/|title=Top Arab MK says open to 'joining' Gantz|newspaper=The Times of Israel|date=1 August 2019 |access-date=5 August 2019}}</ref>{{efn|name="Hadash"|group=n|Hadash}}{{efn|name="Balad"|group=n|Balad}}{{efn|name="Ta'al"|group=n|Ta'al}} | Non-Zionism{{efn|name="Hadash"|group=n|Hadash}} | Anti-Zionism{{efn|name="Balad"|group=n|Balad}}{{efn|name="Ta'al"|group=n|Ta'al}} | Pan-Arabism{{efn|name="Balad"|group=n|Balad}} | Left-wing nationalism<ref name="hagalil">{{cite news|last1=Grigat|first1=Stephan|title=Wahlkampf in Israel – ein Überblick|url=http://www.hagalil.com/2019/03/wahlkampf-6/|access-date=20 May 2026|date=2 March 2019|work=haGalil|language=de|quote=Nun ist die Vereinte Liste zerbrochen, und die arabisch-nationalistische Partei Ta’al von Ahmad Tibi wird gemeinsam mit Hadash unter der Führung von Ayman Odeh antreten, und die linksnationalistische Balad gemeinsam mit den Islamisten von Ra’am. Ta’al-Hadash sollte es sicher in die Knesset schaffen. Wenn es auch Balad-Ra’am ins Parlament schaffen, könnten die antizionistisch-arabischen Parteien und die KP dort über bis zu 14 Sitze verfügen.}}</ref>{{efn|name="Balad"|group=n|Balad}} | Arab nationalism<ref name="timesofisrael"/><ref name="hagalil" />{{efn|name="Ta'al"|group=n|Ta'al}} | Palestinian nationalism{{efn|name="Balad"|group=n|Balad}} | Social conservatism<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-islamist-raam-broke-arab-politics-and-may-win-the-keys-to-the-government/|title=How Islamist Ra'am broke Arab politics and may win the keys to the government|date=25 March 2021|access-date=18 September 2022|author=Aaron Boxerman|work=Times of Israel}}</ref>{{efn|name="Ra'am"|group=n|Ra'am}} | Socialism<ref name="timesofisrael"/>{{efn|name="Hadash"|group=n}} | Communism{{refn|<ref name="Weinblum2015">{{cite book|author=Sharon Weinblum|title=Security and Defensive Democracy in Israel: A Critical Approach to Political Discourse|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8DtyBgAAQBAJ&pg=PR10|year=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-58450-6|page=10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Carol Migdalovitz |url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/ib82008.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030523183515/http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/ib82008.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 May 2003 |title=Israel: Background and Relations with the United States|series=CRS Issue Brief for Congress |publisher=Congressional Research Service |date=18 May 2006 |access-date=15 June 2015}}</ref>}}{{efn|name="Hadash"|group=n|Hadash}} | Islamism<ref name="timesofisrael"/>{{efn|name="Ra'am"|group=n|Ra'am}} }} | position = Left-wing{{refn|<ref>{{cite news|last1=Föderl-Schmid|first1=Alexandra|title=Ein Land, zwei Welten|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/israel-ein-land-zwei-welten-1.4395033|access-date=25 June 2019|date=3 April 2019|work=Süddeutsche Zeitung|language=de}}</ref><ref name="nzz">{{cite news|last1=Schmid|first1=Ulrich|last2=al-Hiran|first2=Umm|title=Verpasste Chancen im Land der Beduinen|url=https://www.nzz.ch/international/nahost-und-afrika/umm-al-hiran-und-die-folgen-verpasste-chancen-im-land-der-beduinen-ld.142695?reduced=true|access-date=25 June 2019|date=31 January 2017|work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Haaretz|title=Israel Election Results: Arab Leaders Herald High Turnout as Victory Over Netanyahu|date=18 September 2019|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2019-09-18/ty-article/.premium/israel-election-results-arab-turnout-victory-over-netanyahu/0000017f-f71b-d5bd-a17f-f73b97cf0000}}</ref>}} | headquarters = Nazareth<ref>{{cite news |author=Isabel Kershner |author-link=Isabel Kershner |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/18/world/middleeast/netanyahu-israel-elections-arabs.html |title=Deep Wounds and Lingering Questions After Israel's Bitter Race |newspaper=The New York Times |date=18 March 2015 |page=A1 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref> | international = | website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20210414082438/https://jointlist.org.il/|jointlist.org.il}} (he)<br />{{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20200430194431/http://www.moshtrka.com/}} (ar) | country = Israel | symbol = {{Script/Hebrew|ודעם}}<br />{{Script/Arabic|وضعم}}<br /><br /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bechirot24.bechirot.gov.il/election/Candidates/Pages/OneListCandidates.aspx?LPF=Search&WebId=6adadc15-e476-480b-9746-04490aedeb0f&ListID=ba72a662-765c-45af-9d48-fb68080956af&ItemID=220&FieldID=ListNickname_GxS_Text|title=הציונות הדתית בראשות בצלאל סמוטריץ'|website=Central Election Committee for the Knesset|access-date=14 June 2021|language=he}}</ref> | affiliation1_title = Member parties | affiliation1 = Balad <br />Hadash<br /> Ta'al<br />Mada (2021–2022)<br />Ra'am (2015–2021) | seats1_title = Most MKs | seats1 = 15 (2020) | colors = {{Color box|{{party color|Joint List}}|border=darkgray}} | name_lang1 = {{Script/Hebrew|הרשימה המשותפת}} | lang1 = Hebrew | name_lang2 = {{lang|ar|القائمة المشتركة}} | lang2 = Arabic }}
The '''Joint List''' ({{langx|ar|القائمة المشتركة}}, ''al-Qa'imah al-Mushtarakah'', {{langx|he|הָרְשִׁימָה הַמְּשֻׁתֶּפֶת}}, ''HaReshima HaMeshutefet'') was a political alliance of four of the Arab-majority political parties in Israel: Hadash, Balad, the United Arab List and Ta'al. The United Arab List left the alliance on 28 January 2021. With Balad wanting to leave the coalition, it was subsequently dissolved in 2022.
The alliance was the third-largest faction in the Knesset after the 2015 election, estimated to have received 82% of the Arab vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Arab-sector-turnout-for-recent-elections-reached-635-percent-polling-data-shows-394878|title=Arab sector turnout for recent elections reached 63.5%, polling data shows|work=The Jerusalem Post|author1=Ariel Ben Solomon|date=24 March 2015|access-date=2 April 2026}}</ref> In January 2019, Ta'al split from the alliance, and the remaining coalition was dissolved on 21 February 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hadash and Ta'al Arab Parties join forces ahead of elections |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5467724,00.html |work=ynet |date=21 February 2019|author=Hassan Shaalan}}</ref> The Joint List was reestablished on 28 July for the September 2019 election,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/nationalist-balad-party-announces-it-will-run-on-joint-list-in-autumn-elections/|title=Nationalist Balad party announces it will run on Joint List in autumn elections|date=29 July 2019|work=The Times of Israel|author=Adam Rasgon}}</ref> in which it won 13 seats and was again the third-largest faction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/final-votes-being-tallied-with-likud-blue-and-white-still-neck-and-neck/|title=Final votes being tallied with Likud, Blue and White still neck-and-neck|author=Staff writer|author-link=Staff writer|website=The Times of Israel|date=19 September 2019}}</ref> In the 2020 elections, the Joint List increased its seats from 13 to 15, described by ''Haaretz'' as "an unprecedented showing".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2020-03-06/ty-article/.premium/israel-election-2020-netanyahu-gantz/0000017f-e288-d38f-a57f-e6da17510000|title=Final Election Results: Netanyahu Bloc Short of Majority With 58 Seats|author=Staff writer|author-link=Staff writer|website=Haaretz|date=5 March 2020}}</ref> In the buildup to the 2021 elections, the Islamic conservative-leaning United Arab List left the Joint List due to ideological disagreements and ran on its own, gaining four seats, while the seats held by the Joint List fell to six.<ref name="Broke">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-panel-approves-joint-lists-breakup-after-talks-with-raam-faction-fail/|title=Knesset panel approves Joint List's breakup after talks with Ra'am faction fail|author1=Staff writer|author-link=Staff writer|author2=Aaron Boxerman|website=The Times of Israel|date=28 January 2021}}</ref> The alliance broke up prior to the 2022 elections, with Hadash and Ta'al running together and Balad running alone.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-led-joint-list-splits-into-2-factions-shuffling-political-deck-at-last-minute/|title=Arab-led Joint List splits into 2 factions, shuffling political deck at last minute|website=The Times of Israel}}</ref>
On 22 January 2026, the leaders of all four parties committed to revive the Joint List for the 2026 election. Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas agreed to join, on the condition that each party would operate separately after the election.
==History== [[File:Ayman_Odeh_and_Shady_Halilya.jpg|thumb|Ayman Odeh (right) and Shady Haliya]] [[File:פעילים של הרשימה המשותפת.jpg|thumb|Activists of the Joint List during the 2015 elections ]] The Joint List was formed in the build-up to the 2015 elections as an alliance of Balad, Hadash, Ta'al, and the United Arab List (also known by its Hebrew abbreviation Ra'am). The northern branch of the Islamic Movement denounced the entire electoral project.<ref>{{cite news |author=Christa Case Bryant |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2015/0311/Israel-elections-101-On-eve-of-vote-momentum-on-Arab-street-video |title=Israel elections 101: On eve of vote, momentum on Arab street (+video) |newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor |date=11 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref> When formed, the alliance was temporarily known as Wamab.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Israel election updates / Likud: Livni wrong on Congress' Iran sanctions|url=https://www.haaretz.com/likud-livni-wrong-on-congress-iran-sanctions-1.5365742|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105233641/https://www.haaretz.com/likud-livni-wrong-on-congress-iran-sanctions-1.5365742|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2018|access-date=4 July 2020|newspaper=Haaretz|language=en}}</ref>
The agreement between the parties was signed on 22 January,<ref name=TOI>{{cite news |author=Lazar Berman |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-parties-and-hadash-finalize-unity-deal/ |title=Arab parties finalize unity deal |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref> marking the first time the major Arab parties had run as a single list.<ref name="TOI1">{{cite news |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/as-arab-mks-unite-a-new-political-landscape-emerges/ |title=As Arab MKs unite, a new political landscape emerges |work=Times of Israel |date=28 January 2015 |last1=Hazboun |first1=Areej |last2=Estrin |first2=Daniel |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref> Balad, Hadash, and the United Arab List had run separately for elections since the 1990s (Balad and Hadash ran together in 1996), whilst Ta'al had run in alliance with all three during the 1990s and 2000s. However, the raising of the electoral threshold from 2% to 3.25% led to the parties creating an alliance to increase their chances of crossing the threshold,<ref name=TOI /> as both Hadash and Balad received less than 3% of the vote in the 2013 elections. Initially, the parties mulled running as two blocs (Hadash with Ta'al, and Balad with the Islamic Movement), but party representatives said pressure from the Arab public pushed them to join forces.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/after-uniting-arabs-behind-him-ayman-odeh-looks-to-lead-opposition/ |title=After uniting Arabs behind him, Ayman Odeh looks to lead opposition |author=Elhanan Miller |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4631781,00.html |title=With united front, Israeli Arab parties seek more clout |agency=AFP |publisher=Ynetnews |date=2 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref>
The alliance's list for the 2015 elections was headed by Ayman Odeh, the newly-elected leader of Hadash, followed by Masud Ghnaim (United Arab List), Jamal Zahalka (Balad), and Ahmad Tibi (Ta'al), with the following places alternating between Hadash, the Islamic Movement, and Balad. The 12th to 14th places were subject to rotation agreements between the parties.<ref>{{cite news |author=Hassan Shaalan |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4618281,00.html |title=Arab parties to run as one list in upcoming elections |publisher=Ynetnews |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref>
Before the April 2019 election, Ta'al left the alliance, which led to the formation of two lists, Balad–Ra'am and Hadash–Ta'al.
On 22 September 2019, following the September 2019 election, Odeh and the Joint List endorsed Benny Gantz for prime minister, the first time that an Arab party endorsed anyone for prime minister since Yitzhak Rabin in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Gantz-on-verge-of-getting-more-recommendations-602441|title=Joint List endorses Gantz without Balad, giving Netanyahu majority|work=The Jerusalem Post|author1=Gil Hoffman|author2=Lahav Harkov|date=22 September 2019|access-date=22 September 2019}}</ref> However, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin announced on 23 September that the Joint List's three Balad MKs had abstained from endorsing a candidate, thus putting Gantz behind incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in total MK recommendations,<ref name=gantzbehind /> though the Joint List's endorsement of Gantz did account for 10 of the political bloc's 13 MKs.<ref name=gantzbehind>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/23/israel-boost-for-netanyahu-as-three-arab-politicians-refuse-to-back-rival|title=Boost for Netanyahu as three Arab politicians refuse to back rival|author=Oliver Holmes|work=The Guardian|date=23 September 2019|access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref> After the 2020 election, the Joint List unanimously supported Gantz.<ref name=jpost15march>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/President-Rivlin-consults-with-party-leaders-amid-coronavirus-crisis-621015 |title=Joint List endorses Gantz to form government |work=The Jerusalem Post |author=Gil Hoffman |date=15 March 2020 |access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref> However, after the formation of a unity government, it remained in the opposition.
Tensions arose in the alliance in the lead-up to the 2021 election, resulting in the departure of Ra'am from the alliance, driven in part by its leader's decision to engage with Netanyahu.<ref name="Broke" /> Ta'al also left the alliance but later rejoined.<ref name="Ta'al">{{cite web |url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-politics/2021_q1/Article-ab91438bc276771026.htm?sCh=31750a2610f26110&pId=173113802 |title=הרשימה המשותפת מתפרקת: רע"מ תרוץ לבד בבחירות הקרובות|work=News 12 |date=3 February 2021 |access-date=3 February 2021 |author=Amit Segal}}</ref> During the election campaign and after party lists had been submitted, the Ma'an party withdrew its candidacy and endorsed the Joint List, becoming a new member of the alliance.<ref name="Ma'an2">{{cite news |author=Gil Hoffman|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/moderate-arab-party-quits-election-662198|title=Moderate Arab party quits election|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=16 March 2021 |access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref>
The alliance broke up when Balad submitted a separate candidate list for the 2022 election. Balad had objected to Hadash's position that the alliance should support a prime ministerial candidate following the election, and wanted to rework the rotational system of seat sharing employed by the alliance.<ref>{{Cite news |last=חלבי |first=עינב |last2=גולדיטש |first2=חיים |last3=אזולאי |first3=מורן |date=15 September 2022 |title=המהלך שעשוי לחרוץ את גורל הבחירות: הרשימה המשותפת התפלגה |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/election2022/article/h1hin1111zo |access-date=15 November 2025 |work=Ynet |language=he}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=חלבי |first=עינב |date=3 September 2022 |title=בל"ד מסרבת לרוץ עם עודה - אך לא פוסלת שיתוף פעולה עם טיבי |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hkdnvf11ej |access-date=15 November 2025 |work=Ynet |language=he}}</ref> Balad did not pass the threshold in the election.
In July 2025, amidst popular frustration over the Gaza war, Hadash revealed that it was in talks with Ra'am to revive the Joint List to increase the political influence of the Israeli Arab population. According to a poll from Tel Aviv University, 73.3% of Arab respondents supported the inclusion of Arab parties into the next government coalition, while voter turnout among Arabs is expected to hit 57%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arab parties consider reviving joint ticket as Arab public backs joining government |publisher=Times of Israel |date=28 July 2025 |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-parties-consider-reviving-joint-ticket-as-public-backs-joining-government/ |archive-date=29 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729040845/https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-parties-consider-reviving-joint-ticket-as-public-backs-joining-government/ }}</ref>
On 22 January 2026, the leaders of all four parties committed to revive the Joint List for the 2026 election.<ref name=":0" /> Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas agreed to join, on the condition that each party would operate separately after the election.<ref name="27Jan">{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-arab-parties-answer-call-for-unity-raam-seeks-to-retain-role-as-coalition-kingmaker/|title=As Arab parties answer call for unity, Ra’am seeks to retain role as coalition kingmaker|date=27 January 2026|access-date=27 January 2026|work=The Times of Israel|last1=Schneider|first1=Tal}}</ref>
==Politics and ideology== The list was ideologically diverse, and included communists, socialists, feminists, Islamists, and Arab nationalists.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/24/world/middleeast/israeli-arab-political-parties-form-single-ticket-for-elections.html |title=Diverse Israeli Arab Political Factions Join Forces to Keep Place in Parliament |author=Jodi Rudoren |newspaper=The New York Times |date=24 January 2015 |page=A4 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israels-sparring-arab-political-parties-have-united-for-the-first-time/2015/03/09/6f6c021a-c660-11e4-bea5-b893e7ac3fb3_story.html |title=Israel's Arab political parties have united for the first time |author=Ruth Eglash |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=10 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref><ref name=TOI1/> After having united parties with various political agendas, Odeh met with Jewish Hadash activists and former Knesset speaker Avraham Burg (who had endorsed Hadash), in an attempt to allay concerns that the new alliance would dilute the party's principles, such as gender equality.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/ce22348cf04a4265b63609e1cbe5068b |title=Rise of pragmatic Arab politician shakes up Israeli politics |author=Karin Laub |publisher=Associated Press |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref>
The alliance's 2015 election campaign focused on preventing Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a government and helping the Labor Party–led Zionist Union do so instead.<ref name=TOI1/><ref>{{cite news |author=Jodi Rudoren |author2=Diaa Hadid |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/world/middleeast/arab-alliance-in-israeli-legislature-sees-unity-as-vehicle-for-progress.html |title=Arab Alliance in Israeli Legislature Sees Unity as Vehicle for Progress |newspaper=The New York Times |date=19 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref>
The Joint List was not united in terms of support for Jewish–Arab co-operation, supported mainly by Hadash. In March 2015 (after the Zionist Union had signed a vote-sharing agreement with Meretz, and Kulanu with Israel Beytenu), officials from the Zionist Union, Meretz, and Yesh Atid explored the idea that the Zionist Union and Meretz revoke their agreement so that the Zionist Union could share surplus votes with Yesh Atid, and Meretz with the Joint List, to potentially strengthen the dovish bloc in the Knesset.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2015-03-05/ty-article/.premium/zionist-union-meretz-may-revoke-surplus-vote-accord/0000017f-ee3f-ddba-a37f-ee7fc9100000 |title=Zionist Union, Meretz may revoke their surplus-vote accord and sign with other parties |author=Ilan Lior |newspaper=Haaretz |date=5 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref> However, the offer caused intra-list tension; Hadash (including Dov Khenin and Joint List chief Odeh) and the United Arab List supported the partnership with Meretz, but the Islamic Movement and especially Balad opposed it.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=24131 |title='Meretz won't be in any coalition with Yisrael Beytenu' |author=Gideon Allon |newspaper=Israel Hayom |date=13 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Zoabi-denies-Post-report-she-is-willing-to-recommend-Herzog-from-government-393655 |title=Zoabi denies 'Post' report she is willing to recommend Herzog form government |author=Ariel Ben Solomon |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2015-03-08/ty-article/.premium/the-left-is-not-doing-israeli-arabs-any-favors/0000017f-ed4c-d639-af7f-eddf5e340000 |title=The left is not doing Israeli Arabs any favors |author=Jack Khoury |newspaper=Haaretz |date=8 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref> According to Nahum Barnea, most of the List, including Jamal Zahalka of Balad, supported the agreement, but Qatar, which reportedly funds Balad, sided with the extremist elements within Balad and had the party come out against it.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4636712,00.html |title=Netanyahu, tragic hero of 2015 elections |author=Nahum Barnea |author-link=Nahum Barnea |publisher=Ynetnews |date=13 March 2015}}</ref> After the Joint List announced it would not share votes with any party, Meretz officials declared that the List had chosen nationalism and separatism over Jewish–Arab solidarity.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/2015-03-09/ty-article/.premium/meretz-slams-joint-list-over-failed-votes-accord/0000017f-ef0d-d4cd-af7f-ef7de18f0000 |title=Meretz slams Arab Joint List over failed votes accord |author=Yarden Skop |newspaper=Haaretz |date=9 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref> A post-election analysis showed that no agreement between these left-of-center parties would have made a difference to the final result.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ilan Lior |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2015-03-20/ty-article/.premium/ire-over-lefts-surplus-vote-fiasco-was-all-for-nothing/0000017f-e277-d804-ad7f-f3ff57090000 |title=Ire over left-wing parties' surplus vote fiasco was all for nothing |newspaper=Haaretz |date=20 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015|quote=}}</ref>
===2015 elections=== {{Main|2015 Israeli legislative election}}
[[File:Joint List logo.png|thumb|107x107px|left|left|132x132pxThe party logos in 2015.]] [[File:Reuven_Rivlin_opened_the_consultations_after_the_2015_elections_with_the_HaReshima_HaMeshutefet_(1).jpg|thumb|The Joint List during the consultation process at President Reuven Rivlin's official residence, after the 2015 elections ]] The Joint List won 13 seats in the 2015 Knesset elections with 10.6% of the total vote, becoming the third-largest party in the 20th Knesset.<ref name="cec 20th">{{cite web |url=http://www.votes20.gov.il/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318200737/http://www.votes20.gov.il/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 March 2015 |title=תוצאות האמת של הבחירות לכנסת ה-20 |publisher=Central Election Commission |language=he |trans-title=Actual results of the 20th Knesset elections |access-date=19 March 2015}}</ref> Odeh stated that he intended for the alliance to work on shared issues with center-left Jewish opposition parties and seek membership of key parliamentary committees.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/03/20/world/middleeast/ap-ml-israel-arabs.html |title=Israeli Arabs say they feel more excluded after election |agency=Associated Press |date=20 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref>
One of the party's first actions after the elections was to trade the two seats that, as the third-largest faction, it was entitled to on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for two more seats on the Finance Committee, primarily to better address its constituents' financial and housing concerns.<ref>{{cite news |author=Jonathan Beck |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-mks-drop-bid-for-foreign-affairs-and-defense-committee/ |title=Arab MKs drop bid for Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=29 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref>
Hadash's Dov Khenin was the only Jewish Knesset member representing the Joint List.<ref name="b303"/>
In late 2015, asked by Army Radio host Razi Barkai if the murder of Eitam and Na'ama Henkin in the West Bank is part of the “popular struggle,” Odeh said that “the Palestinian people choose how to fight against the occupation. I have no doubt that the popular way is the right way and definitely not armed struggle.” He said that he has rejected armed struggle in the past but said an occupied nation has a “right to struggle” for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. Regarding throwing rocks, he said he supported the First Intifada, which was “fully justified” because of the “occupation”: "I cannot tell the nation how to struggle, where and which target to throw the rock. I do not put red lines on the Arab Palestinian nation,” he continued. Odeh also argued he does not view waving the Palestinian flag as a provocation, saying it is the national flag of the Palestinian Arab nation and “does not threaten anyone. Every nation has a flag.”<ref name="v024">{{cite web | author=Ariel Ben Solomon| title=Odeh: I do not put limits on the Palestinian struggle against 'occupation' | website= The Jerusalem Post | date=6 October 2015 | url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/odeh-voices-support-for-unarmed-palestinian-struggle-421084 | access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref>
In December 2016, Hadash Secretary General Adal Amar came under criticism for praising the “unification of Aleppo,” Assad regime forces took control of the city. Some Hadash MKs voiced support for the Assad government. After the April 2017 Khan Shaykhun chemical attack carried out by Assad's forces in a rebel area of Syria, Odeh made a statement condemning the attack, but Hadah vetoed a stronger List statement naming Assad.<ref name="b303">{{cite web |author1=Raoul Wootliff |author2=Luke Tress |author3=Jacob Magid | title=Mostly mum on chemical attack, Israel’s Arab MKs divided on Assad | website=The Times of Israel | date=9 April 2017 | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/mostly-mum-on-chemical-attack-joint-list-remains-divided-on-assad/ | access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="j867">{{cite web | author=Jack Khoury | title=Israeli Arab Party Fails to Condemn Assad's Gas Attack in Syria, Slams U.S. Strikes | website=Haaretz.com | date=9 April 2017 | url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2017-04-09/ty-article/.premium/israeli-arab-party-split-over-condemning-syria-chemical-attack/0000017f-db4b-d3ff-a7ff-fbeb50bb0000 | access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref>
===2020 elections=== {{Main|2020 Israeli legislative election}}
left|thumb|107x107px|Joint List 2020 logo (Arabic) The Joint List won 15 seats with 12.67% of the vote in the 2020 Knesset elections, remaining as the third-largest party in the Knesset until Yesh Atid split off from Blue and White to lead the opposition. This set a new record for percentage of the vote and number of seats for an Arab party,<ref>{{Cite news |author=Adam Rasgon |title=Headed for 15 seats, Joint List chief claims 'huge' success, cites Jewish voters |language=en-US |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/headed-for-15-seats-joint-list-chief-claims-huge-success-cites-jewish-voters/ |access-date=2 July 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> with it performing strongly in the Northern District, Arab cities and villages in the Galilee and also due to the high turnout in the Arab community.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.idi.org.il/articles/30961 | title=The Arab Israeli Vote in the 23rd Knesset Elections | date=October 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://elections.kaplanopensource.co.il/2020/ | title=מפת הבחירות לכנסת ה-23 }}</ref> This was in part due to an increase in support from the Jewish left, as Ayman Odeh's campaigning in Jewish areas helped draw those voters away from the declining establishment left-wing parties.<ref name="Economist">{{Cite news |title=A growing number of Jews are voting for Arabs in Israel |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2020/02/27/a-growing-number-of-jews-are-voting-for-arabs-in-israel |access-date=2 July 2020 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>
=== 2021 elections === {{Main|2021 Israeli legislative election}}
The Joint List ran in the 2021 Knesset election without the United Arab List (Ra'am), who had withdrawn from it several months prior to the vote; it won 4,81% of votes and six seats, a sharp decline compared to previous elections. Such decline was mainly due to the fact that Ra'am ran separately from the List and to the partial resurgence of the Jewish left (Israeli Labor Party and Meretz), who increased their votes and seats.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 March 2021 |title=After Israel's elections, Arab parties at crossroads – analysis |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-elections/after-israels-elections-arab-parties-on-crossroads-analysis-663720 |access-date= |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en}}</ref>
Hadash's Ofer Cassif was the only Jewish MK representing the Joint List.<ref name="ToI Zelensky"/>
Some members of the Joint List did not condemn the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. While Ra’am’s Walid Taha attended a speech via Zoom by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Knesset, Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas was speaking at a conference in Haifa at the same time as the speech, Ta'al's MKs watched the televised version rather than joining the Zoom call, and Hadash and Balad did not attend. Hadash's Ofer Cassif said: “Very sad that good leftists are being deceived after false propaganda — and that they even expect my friends and me to toe the line with the lies being fed to us. I do not take sides in unnecessary wars that harm innocent civilians, strengthen those in power, and enrich the lords of war.”<ref name="ToI Zelensky">{{cite web | author1=Aaron Boxerman | author2=Luke Tress | author3=Jacob Magid | title=Arab Israeli MKs skip Zelensky’s Knesset speech: ‘NATO imposed this war’ | website=The Times of Israel | date=20 March 2022 | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-israeli-mks-skip-zelenskys-knesset-speech-nato-imposed-this-war/ | access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref>
Shortly before the 2022 election, the Joint List was split into a Hadash–Ta'al list, which received 3.75% of votes and won five seats, and a Balad list, which received 2.9% of the vote, failing to pass the electoral threshold.
=== 2026 elections === {{Main|2026 Israeli legislative election}}
In August 2025, the parties reportedly were negotiating a new Joint List.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 August 2025 |title=Arab parties agree to move ahead with reestablishing Joint List bloc for next elections|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-864049|access-date=12 August 2025 |website=The Jerusalem Post|language=en|last1=Neev|first1=Keshet}}</ref> On 22 January 2026, the leaders of all four parties committed to revive the Joint List.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=22 January 2026 |title=Under pressure, Arab Knesset parties sign agreement to work toward reviving Joint List|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/under-pressure-arab-knesset-parties-sign-agreement-to-work-toward-reviving-joint-list/|access-date=23 January 2026 |website=The Times of Israel|language=en|last1=Karmel|first1=Ariela}}</ref> Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas agreed to join, on the condition that each party would operate separately after the election.<ref name="27Jan" /> The following May, members of Hadash, Ta'al and Balad met and announced that they were prepared to launch a technical list. Ra'am responded that it was willing to join the alliance, but emphasized that "each party must preserve its political and public independence."<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 May 2026 |title=The Arab parties will run together in a 'technical joint list' in upcoming elections|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkc00y711lgg|access-date=25 May 2026 |website=ynet|language=en|last1=Halabi|first1=Einav}}</ref>
==Leaders== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" ! <br /> ! colspan="2" | Leader ! Took office ! Left office |- | style="background: {{party color|Joint List}}; color: white" | | 70px | Ayman Odeh | 2015 | 2022 |}
==Election results== {| class=wikitable style=text-align:right ! Election ! Votes ! % ! Seats ! +/– ! Government |- ! 2015{{efn|Joint List did not run together in the 2013 Israeli legislative election; seat adjustment calculated from parties that were affiliated with it}} | 446,583 | 10.61 | {{Composition bar|13|120|hex={{party color|Joint List}}}} | {{increase}} 2 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- ! Sep 2019{{efn|Joint List did not run together in the April 2019 Israeli legislative election; seat adjustment calculated from parties that were affiliated with it}} | 470,211 | 10.60 | {{Composition bar|13|120|hex={{party color|Joint List}}}} | {{increase}} 3 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- ! 2020 | 581,507 | 12.67 | {{Composition bar|15|120|hex={{party color|Joint List}}}} | {{increase}} 2 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- ! 2021{{efn|without Ra'am's seats from 2020}} | 212,583 | 4.82 | {{Composition bar|6|120|hex={{party color|Joint List}}}} | {{decrease}} 5 | {{no2|Opposition}} |}
==Notes== {{Notelist}} {{Reflist|group=fn}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20210414082438/https://jointlist.org.il/ Official website] {{in lang|he}} (Archive) *[http://www.moshtrka.com Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220210829/http://www.moshtrka.com/ |date=20 December 2019 }} {{in lang|Ar}}
{{Arab citizens of Israel footer|uncollapsed}} {{Israeli political parties}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Defunct political party alliances in Israel Category:Arab political parties in Israel Category:Big tent political parties Category:Political parties established in 2015 Category:Political parties disestablished in 2019 Category:Political parties disestablished in 2022 Category:Political parties established in 2021 Category:2015 establishments in Israel Category:History of Nazareth Category:2022 disestablishments in Israel Category:Political opposition alliances