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Ra'am party leader Mansour Abbas speaks during a press conference in Nazareth, April 1, 2021. (David Cohen/Flash90)
A primetime speech by Ra’am party chairman Mansour Abbas, in which he called for political cooperation between Jews and Arabs, drew praise from some left-wing and right-wing politicians on Thursday night.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right allies, however, were seething, with Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich reportedly refusing to take the premier’s phone calls to discuss the prospect of forming a right-wing government supported by Ra’am.
Abbas, whose Islamist party won four seats in the Knesset, emerged as an unlikely possible kingmaker after last week’s inconclusive election. Though he has expressed willingness to partner with either Netanyahu or his rivals — whichever offered a better deal benefiting Arab Israelis — he has yet to endorse a candidate, and said on Thursday he had no desire to be part of either camp.