Former MK from the collapsing Yesh Atid party and retired police officer Yoav Segalovich officially joined the Muslim Brotherhood's Ra'am party list this evening (Monday) - ahead of the upcoming elections.
The announcement was made at a press conference, where the connection was presented as a step aimed at placing the fight against crime and violence at the top of the civilian agenda.
It is estimated that Segalovich will be placed second on the Knesset list.
In his opening remarks, the party chairman, MK Mansour Abbas, explained the background to the move: "RAM has placed before its eyes the civil problems of the Arab citizens of the country. And when I say civil problems, I mean the first thing that every father and mother in Arab society thinks about before they fall asleep: Will my children return home safely? This is crime. This is the violence that harms innocent citizens every day. And eliminating it is at the top of our priority list. Not as an item in the platform. As a mission.
""I've learned one thing in recent years: to create change, you need partnership. Civil partnership. To create change, you need to see the other as a human being, not as an enemy. Some people are afraid of partnership. Some parties are afraid of partnership. They're afraid of what they'll say, afraid of what they'll lose. RAAM is not afraid of partnership. RAAM promotes it.".
He said, "These days, as we are putting together the Ra'am list for the next Knesset, I asked myself a simple question: If we believe in partnership, why wait for it? Why tell the public, 'After the elections, we will sit down, talk, see'? Someone who believes in something doesn't wait for it to be convenient. He starts. So Ra'am doesn't wait for the partnership to be made in the Knesset. It starts it even before.".
Abbas also addressed the expected public criticism from both sides: "And I know what they will say. They will tell me, 'What does an Arab need from a Jewish police officer,' and they will tell him, 'What does a Jewish police officer look for in an Arab?' My answer is simple: I am not looking for someone like me. I am looking for someone who knows how to do the job. And the Arab citizen who buried his son does not ask what the police officer's religion is. He asks why no one comes.
""And to every Jewish citizen listening now: This crime does not stop when you leave the village. The weapon that fires today in Tamra will fire tomorrow in Afula. The organizations that collect sponsorship fees from an Arab grocery store owner also collect from a Jewish garage owner. This is not a problem for the Arabs. This is a problem for the state. And what we are proposing here tonight is not good for the Arabs. This is the only way this state defeated crime the only time it really tried: Arabs and Jews, together, with a professional leading the effort.".
For his part, Segalovich detailed the motives behind his decision to join the movement, saying: "I do not intend to change Mansour and Ra'am, and they will not change me, but we can cooperate politically on the basis of trust, recognition of differences, and commitment to joint action. There are past grievances and there is a bloody history. We will not change the past because it is an existing fact. The role of leadership is to change reality and create a better future.".
He added: "I am not connecting with the RAAM list with a faction, I personally join RAAM. Some may say that there is political weakness in this, but as far as I am concerned, there is more strength and power here. The common statement that after October 7th it is not possible to have a political partnership with Arab parties is unfounded and false.".
The Likud party responded: "Even Segalovich will not hide the fact that Mansour Abbas is not willing to recognize Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations and is pushing to establish a Palestinian state. Together with Eisenkot, Lieberman and Yair Golan, they are going to establish a Palestinian state government.".
Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded: "The starling went to the crow.".
Knesset Speaker, MK Amir Ohana: "Eizenkot has no coalition without Abbas. Segalovich's joining the United Arab List is intended to achieve one thing: to qualify the joining of the Eizenkot government of an Islamist list whose members are incapable of saying 'Hamas is a terrorist organization.' Such a government will not be able to fight Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Iranian nuclear program. Such a government must not be established.".
