Likud maintains contact with Mansour Abbas's Ra'am, journalist claims

NOVEMBER 2, 2026 12:32Senior Likud officials and people close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have maintained contact with Mansour Abbas's Ra'am party despite public opposition to cooperation with Arab parties, Channel 12 journalist Mohammad Magadli revealed in an interview with 103FM on Monday.Magadli, who also hosts a program on Radio Al-Nas, spoke with Gideon Oko and Amichai Attali on their 103FM program Sheva Tesha (Seven Nine), as political debate over cooperation with Arab parties continues to stir controversy. Behind the scenes, however, a more complex reality is unfolding, with Magadli claiming that contacts between the ruling party and Abbas's Ra'am party are continuing."People close to Netanyahu and within Likud have spoken with Mansour Abbas more than once since the polls closed," Magadli said at the beginning of the interview.Asked whether the channel of communication between Likud and Ra'am remained open, Magadli replied emphatically: "It was never closed. Even the most senior figures in Likud approach Ra'am and talk to them. Ra'am knows why it doesn't want to publicize these things and why it keeps this channel open. Ultimately, they understand that they have a way to exert influence, that there is coordination there, and that they are constantly talking to Likud."Magadli went on to argue that Netanyahu's political camp would be prepared to rely on Arab parties if doing so were necessary to secure power.Prime Minister and Likud party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu at the Likud party’s election headquarters in Jerusalem, October 28, 2026 (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)Magadli criticizes Yair Netanyahu over comments on Arab Israelis"Netanyahu's camp will stop at nothing to remain in power. If he were a few seats short of winning, he would do anything to rely on Ra'am. Netanyahu's bloc is prepared to do anything to come to power, and if it needs to rely on both the Joint List and Ra'am to form a government, it will do so. There is no question about it."Later in the interview, Magadli addressed a post on X by Yair Netanyahu, the prime minister's son, in which he claimed that "the next October 7 will come from Israel's Arabs."Magadli strongly condemned the statement, pointing to the contributions of Arab citizens to Israel since the October 7 attacks."As an Arab citizen of the State of Israel, Arab citizens have been contributing to and mobilizing for this country since October 7. Not one of them has left it. Yair Netanyahu should do us the courtesy of coming back here before lecturing Arab citizens, or any other citizen, about morality."Magadli also criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir."This kind of racist rhetoric simply ignores the most important thing: Arab citizens were also kidnapped and murdered, and they played a very significant role in getting up and rebuilding this country. But it is not surprising, because the same Yair Netanyahu applauded Ra'am and spoke about how good and important they were when it suited his father. He is an irrelevant person, so let's not waste our time on him," he explained.Likud rejected Magadli's allegations in a statement, denying that it had maintained contact with Arab parties."Complete fake news! There has been and will be no contact whatsoever between Likud and Arab parties that support terrorism. This is another transparent and dishonest attempt by the propaganda media to legitimize the left-wing bloc relying on parties that support terrorism," the party said in a statement.Follow us on Google