{{Short description|Political party in Israel}} {{distinguish|Abnaa el-Balad}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox political party | name = Balad | native_name = {{lang|he|בל״ד}}<br>{{lang|ar|بلد}} | logo = Balad.svg | logo_size = 175 | colorcode = {{party color|Balad (political party)}} | leader = Sami Abu Shehadeh | foundation = {{Start date|1995}} | ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap| |Palestinian nationalism{{efn|name=Nationalism|Attributed to multiple references: <ref>{{cite news|title=Israel's Arab parties join forces to make gains in upcoming polls|date=29 July 2019|work=Al Jazeera|quote=Palestinian nationalist Balad|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/7/29/israels-arab-parties-join-forces-to-make-gains-in-upcoming-polls}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Arab-led Joint List splits into 2 factions, shuffling political deck at last minute|date=16 September 2022|work=The Times of Israel|quote=Balad, a hardline Palestinian nationalist party|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-led-joint-list-splits-into-2-factions-shuffling-political-deck-at-last-minute/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Battling ex-allies and old foes, new Balad head seeks to rebalance party|date=23 March 2021|work=The Times of Israel|quote=Balad, a party whose down-the-line Palestinian nationalism makes it perhaps the most contentious faction in Israeli politics|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/battling-ex-allies-and-old-foes-new-balad-head-seeks-to-rebalance-party/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Arab Politics in the 2022 Election Campaign|date=18 October 2022|work=Israel Democracy Institute|quote=Balad, a party with a clear Palestinian nationalist orientation|url=https://en.idi.org.il/articles/46056}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Arab MK calls for end to PA, renewal of Palestinian nationalism|date=26 April 2016|work=Ynet|quote=Balad views itself as part of the Palestinian national cause – not part of the Israeli left|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4796307,00.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=ביקורת בבל"ד: "הקורונה עצרה הכל, חוץ מהריצה לגנץ"|date=18 March 2020|work=שיחה מקומית|quote=בל"ד, שהוקמה אז כהתרסה לחד"ש, חרטה על דגלה שני עקרונות: זהות לאומית פלסטינית ו"מדינת כל אזרחיה".|url=https://www.mekomit.co.il/%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%91%D7%9C%D7%93-%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%A6%D7%94-%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%94-%D7%A2%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%94%D7%9B/}}</ref>}} |Social democracy<ref name="Houminer-Rosenblum">{{Cite news|first=Aviad|last=Houminer-Rosenblum|title=Joint List – 4 Arab parties on 1 slate – is poles apart but strong together|publisher = Times of Israel|access-date = 14 March 2020|date =14 March 2020|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/joint-list-4-arab-parties-on-1-slate-is-poles-apart-but-strong-together/}}</ref> |Secularism<ref name="Jamal">{{Cite book |first=Amal |last=Jamal |title=Arab Minority Nationalism in Israel |publisher=Routledge |year=2011 |isbn=978-0415567398 |page=143|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pWLCpqnsoLQC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Das sind die Parteien in der Knesset|url=https://www.israelnetz.com/politik-wirtschaft/politik/2019/04/11/das-sind-die-parteien-in-der-knesset/|access-date=8 December 2020|date=11 April 2019|work=Israelnetz|language=de}}</ref> |One-state solution<ref>{{cite news|title=Balad-Tajammu’ party says Israeli protest movement is fighting for “a democracy for Jews only”|date=24 March 2023|work=Mondoweiss|quote=Since its founding, it has advocated for one democratic state in Palestine|url=https://mondoweiss.net/2023/03/balad-party-says-israeli-protest-movement-is-fighting-for-a-democracy-for-jews-only/}}</ref>|Anti-Zionism<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/casting-ballot-long-shot-balad-head-sami-abou-shahadeh-predicts-election-surprise/ |title=Casting ballot, long-shot Balad head Sami Abou Shahadeh predicts ‘election surprise’ |quote=With his hardline anti-Zionist Balad party polling below the 3.25 percent threshold needed to return to the Knesset and widely seen as a dark horse, the MK nonetheless projected confidence that turnout among Arabs would be higher than forecast, ushering his faction back into the halls of power. |date=1 November 2022 |access-date=8 May 2026 |work=The Times of Israel }}</ref>}} | position = Left-wing{{efn|name=Left-wing}} to far-left{{efn|name=Far-left|Attributed to multiple references: <ref>{{cite news|title=Balad – The Israel Democracy Institute|work=The Israel Democracy Institute|quote=In political terms, Balad is at the far left of the spectrum of Israeli parties, and it champions turning the State of Israel into a "state of all of its citizens.|url=https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/parties/balad/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=At an Israeli polling station, Arab voters struggle to be heard|date=1 November 2022|work=Ynet|quote=Balad, the far-left Arab party struggling to get into the Knesset|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/rysplkysi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Right-Wingers, Rabbis, Socialists & Arab Nationalists: A Guide to the Top 13 Israeli Political Parties Running in the 2022 Knesset Elections|date=19 September 2022|work=HonestReporting|quote=A far-left Arab party, Balad has contested Knesset elections both by itself and as part of mergers with other Arab parties.|url=https://honestreporting.com/right-wingers-rabbis-socialists-arab-nationalists-a-guide-to-the-top-13-israeli-political-parties-running-in-the-2022-knesset-elections/}}</ref>}}{{cref|A}} | headquarters = Nazareth, Israel | website = {{URL|http://www.altajamoa.org}} | country = Israel | predecessor = Progressive List for Peace (faction)<ref name="Jamal" /> | national = Joint List (2015–2019; 2020–2022) | symbol = {{lang|ar|ض}} <small>{{nobold|or}}</small> {{Script/Hebrew|ד}} | logo_upright = 0.7 | seats1_title = Knesset | seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|120|hex={{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} | colours = {{colour box|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} Orange | seats2_title = Most MKs | seats2 = {{nowrap|3 (2003–2015; 2019–2021)}} | seats3_title = {{nowrap|Fewest MKs}} | seats3 = 0 (2022) | footnotes = {{cnote|A|Balad is a left-wing<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|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>{{cite web|url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3770603,00.html|title=Netanyahu's Likud One Seat Behind Gantz's Blue and White Party|date=18 September 2019|access-date=29 January 2021|author=Tofi Stoler and Adi Pick|work=CTech}}</ref> social-democratic party,<ref name="Houminer-Rosenblum"/> but in Israeli political discourse it is often described as "far-left", largely due to its opposition to Israel as a Jewish nation-state and its advocacy of a "state of all its citizens" model regardless of ethnicity.<ref>{{cite news|title=Balad – The Israel Democracy Institute|work=The Israel Democracy Institute|quote=In political terms, Balad is at the far left of the spectrum of Israeli parties, and it champions turning the State of Israel into a "state of all of its citizens.|url=https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/parties/balad/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=At an Israeli polling station, Arab voters struggle to be heard|date=1 November 2022|work=Ynet|quote=Balad, the far-left Arab party struggling to get into the Knesset|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/rysplkysi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Right-Wingers, Rabbis, Socialists & Arab Nationalists: A Guide to the Top 13 Israeli Political Parties Running in the 2022 Knesset Elections|date=19 September 2022|work=HonestReporting|quote=A far-left Arab party, Balad has contested Knesset elections both by itself and as part of mergers with other Arab parties.|url=https://honestreporting.com/right-wingers-rabbis-socialists-arab-nationalists-a-guide-to-the-top-13-israeli-political-parties-running-in-the-2022-knesset-elections/}}</ref> In 2022, Israel's Central Elections Committee stated that the party "rejects Israel’s existence as a Jewish and democratic state."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2022-10-05/ty-article/.premium/israeli-arab-party-balad-appeals-ruling-after-being-barred-from-election/00000183-a996-d4f4-aff3-ebfe9a770000 |title=Arab Party Balad Appeals Ruling After Being Barred From Israeli Election |date=5 October 2022 |access-date=14 May 2026 |work=Haarets}}</ref>}} }} {{Socialism in Israel|Extant parties}} {{Palestinian nationalism sidebar|Parties}} '''Balad''' ({{langx|he|בָּלַ״ד}}) is a left-wing{{efn|name=Left-wing|Attributed to multiple references: <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|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>{{cite web|url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3770603,00.html|title=Netanyahu's Likud One Seat Behind Gantz's Blue and White Party|date=18 September 2019|access-date=29 January 2021|author=Tofi Stoler and Adi Pick|work=CTech}}</ref>}} Palestinian nationalist political party in Israel led by Sami Abu Shehadeh.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sami Abu Shehadeh wins Balad primaries|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-elections/sami-abu-shehadeh-wins-balad-primaries-656452|access-date=24 January 2021|work=The Jerusalem Post|language=en|date=23 January 2021|author=Udi Shaham}}</ref>
The party is most commonly known by the abbreviation of its Hebrew name, '''Brit Leumit Demokratit''' ({{langx|he|בְּרִית לְאֻמִּית דֵּמוֹקְרָטִית||National Democratic Alliance|links=no}}), which coincides with the Arabic word for "country" or "nation" ({{langx|ar|بلد|links=no}}). Its full Arabic name is '''at-Tajammuʿ al-Waṭanī ad-Dīmuqrāṭī''' ({{langx|ar|التجمع الوطني الديمقراطي||National Democratic Assembly|links=no}}).
== History ==
===1990s=== [[File:Jamal Zhalka2009.JPG|thumb|150px|Jamal Zahalka, a former leader of the party]] Balad was formed and registered as a political party in 1995, by a group of young Israeli Arab intellectuals headed by Azmi Bishara.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 December 2002 |url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/balad-a-country-of-all-its-citizens-cultural-autonomy-for-arabs-1.24538 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606071038/http://www.haaretz.com/news/balad-a-country-of-all-its-citizens-cultural-autonomy-for-arabs-1.24538 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 June 2011 |title=Balad: A country of all its citizens, cultural autonomy for Arabs |newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref> In the 1999 elections, Balad ran on a joint ticket with Ta'al, headed by MK Ahmad Tibi. They won two seats. However, a request was submitted that same year for the list to disband, and did so after the Knesset approved the request. Bishara remained its only member.
===2000s=== In 2001 party leader Azmi Bishara gave a speech in Umm al-Fahm on the 33rd anniversary of Israel's victory in the Six-Day War, deploring it, and later visited Syria and gave a speech mourning the death of Syria's president, Hafez al-Assad a year before, and expressing solidarity with Syria's and Hezbollah's fight against Israel. Upon his return to Israel, parliamentary immunity was removed from him by a vote of the Israeli Knesset, and in 2002 he was charged and indicted for supporting terrorist organizations against Israel and siding with her enemies, and also for violating Israel's Emergency Regulations in that he knowingly assisted Israeli citizens to enter Syria without approval of the Minister of Interior.<ref>{{cite news |author=Joel Greenberg |title=Israel Tries Legislator For Praising Hezbollah |newspaper=The New York Times |date=28 February 2002 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/28/world/israel-tries-legislator-for-praising-hezbollah.html?ref=azmibishara |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref> The trial was however cancelled, after The High Court of Justice ruled in favor of a petition submitted by Bishara where he protested that his speeches were protected by legal immunity, which is granted to all Knesset members in order to allow them to fulfill their duties. His parliamentary immunity was immediately restored.
Prior to the 2003 elections, the Central Elections Committee banned the party from running by a one-vote margin, claiming it did not respect Israel's legally-mandated status as a Jewish state and that its leader supported terrorism.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2641227.stm |title=Poll ban on Arab Israelis lifted |work=BBC News |date=9 January 2003 |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref> The move to ban Balad was initiated by Michael Kleiner, the leader of the right-wing Herut party, who alleged that Balad was "a cover-up for illegal activity" and that it "supports terror organizations, identifies with the enemy and acts against Israel as a Jewish and democratic state".<ref>{{cite news |author=Yair Ettinger | date=14 November 2002 |url=https://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/right-wing-mks-launch-bid-to-disqualify-arab-parties-1.28437 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522155700/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/right-wing-mks-launch-bid-to-disqualify-arab-parties-1.28437 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 May 2011 |title=Right-wing MKs launch bid to disqualify Arab parties |newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref> The Gush Shalom activist group criticized the decision saying it introduced into the committee the "aggressive, predatory and racist attitudes of the majority of the extreme right" who they believe favor banning all Arab MKs. Bishara personally responded to the Election Committee's charges that he supported Hezbollah by saying, "I believe that a people living under occupation [have] the right to fight against it, but I never called on the Palestinians to embark on an armed struggle against Israel. I never supported violent activity." The Elections Committee had also voted to ban Ahmad Tibi of the Ta'al party who had formed an electoral alliance with the left wing Hadash coalition.<ref name=HA>{{cite news |author=Gideon Alon |author2=Yair Ettinger | date=1 January 2003 |url=https://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/election-committee-disqualifies-mk-bishara-and-balad-list-1.23594 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522155833/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/election-committee-disqualifies-mk-bishara-and-balad-list-1.23594 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 May 2011 |title=Election Committee disqualifies MK Bishara and Balad list |newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref>
However, the bans on both parties were overturned by the Israeli Supreme Court.<ref name=BBC /> Supreme Court Justice Misha'el Kheshin told the election committee that Bishara's past expressions of support for Hezbollah in Lebanon had angered him, although he voted to allow him to run in the elections because "Israel's democracy is strong and can tolerate irregular cases", and thought that there was insufficient evidence for the ban.<ref name=HA /> Balad won three seats in the elections, filled by Bishara, Wasil Taha, and Jamal Zahalka.
In the 2006 elections Balad won three seats, which were taken by Bishara, Taha, and Zahalka. However, more controversy was to come when, after the 2006 Lebanon War, all three visited Syria and Lebanon in September 2006 and expressed solidarity for Hezbollah in its fight against Israel. Particularly strong statements were made by Bishara. They returned to Israel on 16 September, saying they planned to return to Syria again "if necessary". A police investigation was launched into their activities in enemy territories.<ref>{{cite news |author=Hillel Fendel |publisher=Arutz Sheva |date=18 September 2006 |title=Arab Ex-MKs Questioned on Illegal Visit to Syria |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=112265 |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref>
Following this, Bishara was charged anew with supporting terrorism against Israelis, to which was added the charge of treason and various other criminal charges including receiving large sums of money from a foreign agent in return for his services, and money laundering. Although he promised to return from a few days' trip abroad to continue questioning by the authorities, after several weeks in other Arab states he instead resigned from the Knesset at the Israeli Embassy in Cairo on 22 April 2007.<ref>{{cite news |author=Efrat Weiss |title=Bishara suspected of aiding enemy during Lebanon war |publisher=Ynetnews |date=25 April 2007 |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3391929,00.html |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref> Bishara denied the charges but did not return to Israel to face court proceedings.<ref>{{cite news |author=Rory McCarthy |title=Wanted, for crimes against the state |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 July 2007 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jul/24/israel |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref> He was said to be "considering staying abroad because he feared a long term jail sentence and an end to his political career".<ref>{{cite news|author=Sheera Claire Frenkel |url=https://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1176152849116&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |title=Report: MK Bishara leaves Egypt |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=23 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205130947/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1176152849116&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |archive-date=5 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bishara was replaced in the Knesset by Said Nafa. Abroad, Bishara actively promoted political charges of "apartheid" against Israel in various Arab and Western venues, travelling widely. Nevertheless, he continued to accept Israeli pension payments made to former Knesset members for nearly four years, until, in February 2011, the Knesset passed a bill revoking pensions for lawmakers who have evaded an investigation or trial for serious offenses.<ref>{{cite news |author=Roni Sofer |title=Knesset passes Bishara bill: 'There's a limit to the madness' |publisher=Ynetnews |date=14 February 2011 |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4028624,00.html |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref>
On 12 January 2009 Balad was disqualified from the 2009 Israeli elections by the Central Elections Committee by a vote of 26 to 3, with one abstention. It was disqualified on grounds that it does not recognize the State of Israel and calls for armed conflict against it. Zahalka argued that the decision was related to Operation Cast Lead, and said that he is not surprised by it "because the vote was taken for political motives due to the war atmosphere. ... The committee members sought to increase their popularity at our expense on the backdrop of the elections."<ref name=glickman>{{Cite news|last=Glickman|first=Aviad|title=Arab parties disqualified from elections|publisher=Ynetnews|access-date=12 January 2009|date=12 January 2009|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3654866,00.html}}</ref> On 19 January Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, said that he saw no grounds to prevent the Balad from taking part in the election, and noted that the decision was based on "flimsy evidence". On 21 January the Supreme Court of Israel overturned the committee's decision by a majority of eight to one. Zahalka said: "Balad stands by its platform. The court's decision is a victory to the Arab public and to anyone who seeks democracy. ... We call on everyone to back the notion of 'a people state' and a life of equality bar discrimination."<ref name=glickman2>{{Cite news|last=Glickman|first=Aviad|title=Arab parties win disqualification appeal|publisher=Ynetnews|access-date=21 January 2009|date=21 January 2009|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3659935,00.html}}</ref> Balad maintained its three seats in the Knesset in 2009 elections.
===2010s=== In 2010 Balad MK Haneen Zoabi took part in the Gaza flotilla and was on the MV Mavi Marmara when clashes broke out between Israeli soldiers and armed protesters, the day after then gave a speech in the Knesset about the flotilla the next day, another MK attempted to physically stop her but was restrained.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2016-09-22 |title=A brief history of Balad scandals {{!}} The Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/a-brief-history-of-balad-scandals-468356 |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref>
In the 2013 Knesset elections Balad retained its three seats.
In 2014, Zoabi gave an interview in which she said that the Hamas militants responsible for the 2014 kidnapping and murder of 3 Israeli teenagers were not terrorists. She additionally authored an editorial on a Hamas website calling for Palestinians to “besiege” Israel. The Knesset investigated her for incitement and she was suspended from all Knesset activities except voting for 6 months.<ref name=":0" />
Ahead of the 2015 Knesset election, the electoral threshold was raised from 2% to 3.25%, forcing small parties into alliances.<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> While Balad had initially mulled a narrower cooperation with the southern branch of Islamist Islamic Movement in Israel, public pressure amongst its Arab constituency forced the party to give in to a larger alliance.<ref>{{cite news |author=Elhanan Miller |title=After uniting Arabs behind him, Ayman Odeh looks to lead opposition |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/after-uniting-arabs-behind-him-ayman-odeh-looks-to-lead-opposition/ |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref> In January 2015, Balad signed an agreement with the other three Arab-dominated parties, Hadash, the United Arab List and Ta'al, to form a single Joint List,<ref name="TOI" /> an ideologically diverse list including communists, socialists, feminists, Islamists, and Palestinian 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">{{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>
In early 2016 3 Balad MK's met with the families of 10 deceased Palestinian militants, some of whom had committed terrorists attacks against Israel, and later stood in a moment of silence for "Palestinian Martyrs". The 3 were suspended from all Knesset duties besides voting for 3 or 6 months. That same year MK Haneen Zoabi called IDF soldiers "murderers" almost starting a brawl inside the Knesset.<ref name=":0" />
In March Joint List leader Ayman Odeh explored the possibility of a limited surplus vote-sharing agreement with Meretz. After Hadash and the United Arab List had come out in favor of such a left-wing bloc, Balad however vehemently opposed the idea.<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> Though even within Balad, the more moderate faction around Jamal Zahalka was said to support an agreement, sided with the fundamentalist faction around party founder Azmi Bishara to ultimately veto any agreement with Meretz.<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> Meretz subsequently slammed the List for having 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> With 11% of the vote, the Joint List won 13 seats, becoming the third-largest party in the 20th Knesset.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=he:תוצאות האמת של הבחירות לכנסת ה-20 |trans-title=Actual results of the 20th Knesset elections |publisher=Central Election Commission |url=http://www.votes20.gov.il/ |access-date=19 March 2015 |language=he |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318200737/http://www.votes20.gov.il/ |archive-date=18 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Two of the thirteen seats were taken by Balad. Basel Ghattas, a Balad MK from 2013-2017 resigned his parliamentary immunity and was charged with smuggling contraband notes and cellphones to Palestinian Prisoners in Israel, he pleaded guilty and served 2 years in prison.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rasgon |first=Adam |date=2019-09-24 |title=A brief history of Balad, the renegade Joint List faction that passed on Gantz |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-brief-history-of-balad-the-renegade-joint-list-faction-that-passed-on-gantz/ |access-date=2026-05-05 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref>
The Joint List was dissolved ahead of the April 2019 Knesset elections, which Balad contested in alliance with the United Arab List. The list received 3% of the vote and won four seats, two of which were taken by Balad. The Joint List was reformed for the September 2019 Knesset elections and won 13 seats, three of which were held by Balad.
===2020s=== The party remained a member of the Joint List for the 2020 Knesset elections. The alliance won 15 seats, three of which went to Balad. However, after the United Arab List left the alliance, the Joint List won six seats in the 2021 Knesset elections, with Balad reduced to a single seat. Balad opted to contest the 2022 Knesset elections alone. The party received 2.9% of the vote, failing to cross the electoral threshold and losing its parliamentary representation.
In 2024, after a carbomb went off in an Arab area killing 4 and injuring 1, Balad accused the Israeli government of failing to properly tackle crime in Arab areas. Arguing that the Israeli government intentionally allows crime in Arab areas as part of an Israeli conspiracy against Palestinians across the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-13 |title=Balad: Israel feeds crime in Arab society |url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240913-balad-israel-feeds-crime-in-arab-society/ |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=Middle East Monitor}}</ref>
The party is expected to gain Knesset seats in the 2026 Israeli legislative election, if the Joint List does reunite.
==Ideology and political positions== Balad defines itself as a "democratic party that represents the Arab citizens of Israel as a Palestinian Arab nationalist party".<ref>{{cite news|title=מצע בל"ד – التجمع|quote=בל'ד היא מפלגה דמוקרטית המייצגת את האזרחים הערבים בישראל כמפלגה לאומית ערבית פלסטינית|url=https://www.altajamoa.org/%D7%A2%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%AA/2018/09/11/%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%A2-%D7%91%D7%9C-%D7%93}}</ref> Its stated purpose is the "struggle to transform the state of Israel into a democracy for all its citizens, irrespective of national or ethnic identity".<ref name=site>[http://balad.org/index.php?id=138 National Democratic Assembly – NDA] party website. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323183106/http://www.balad.org/index.php?id=138 |date=23 March 2008 }}.</ref> It opposes the idea of Israel as a Jewish state, and supports its reformation as a "democratic and secular" state.
Balad also advocates that the state of Israel recognize Arabs as a national minority, entitled to all rights that come with that status including autonomy in education, culture and media.<ref name=site /> Since the party's formation, it has objected to every proposed state budget.
Balad supports a one-state solution in which there would be a single Palestinian state "for all its citizens", with a right of return for all Palestinians. The party also calls for the Israeli government to withdraw from the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=ToI |date=2019-02-02 |title=Balad chair: Party is ‘part of Palestinian national movement,’ PM a war criminal |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/mtanes-shihadeh-secures-top-spot-on-balad-party-slate-for-upcoming-election/ |access-date=2026-04-27 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ofir |first=Jonathan |date=2023-03-24 |title=Balad-Tajammu’ party says Israeli protest movement is fighting for “a democracy for Jews only” |url=https://mondoweiss.net/2023/03/balad-party-says-israeli-protest-movement-is-fighting-for-a-democracy-for-jews-only/ |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=Mondoweiss |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Balad |url=https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/parties/balad/ |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=en.idi.org.il |language=en}}</ref>
==Leaders== * Azmi Bishara (1995–2007) * Jamal Zahalka (2007–2019) * Mtanes Shehadeh (2019–2021) * Sami Abu Shehadeh (2021–present)
==Knesset election results== {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center !Election !Votes !% !Seats !+/– |- |1996 |colspan=2 |With Hadash |{{Composition bar|1|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{N/A}} |- |1999{{efn|name = Ta'al|In alliance with Ta'al.}} |66,103 |1.9 (#14) |{{Composition bar|1|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{steady}} |- |2003 |71,299 |2.26 (#11) |{{Composition bar|3|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{increase}} 2 |- |2006 |72,066 |2.30 (#12) |{{Composition bar|3|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{steady}} |- |2009 |83,739 |2.48 (#12) |{{Composition bar|3|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{steady}} |- |2013 |97,030 |2.56 (#11) |{{Composition bar|3|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{steady}} |- |2015 |colspan=2|Part of the Joint List |{{Composition bar|3|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{steady}} |- |April 2019 |colspan=2|With the United Arab List |{{Composition bar|2|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{decrease}} 1 |- |September 2019 |colspan=2 rowspan=3|Part of the Joint List |{{Composition bar|3|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{increase}} 1 |- |2020 |{{Composition bar|3|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{steady}} |- |2021 |{{Composition bar|1|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{decrease}} 2 |- |2022 |138,093 |2.90 (#12) |{{Composition bar|0|120|{{party color|Balad (political party)}}}} |{{decrease}} 1 |- |}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|A-Tajammu (Balad)|Balad (political party)}} * [http://www.arabs48.com/ Arabs48] Newspaper affiliated with Balad {{in lang|ar}} * [https://www.knesset.gov.il/faction/eng/FactionPage_eng.asp?PG=103 Balad] Knesset website
{{Israeli political parties}} {{Authority control}}
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