Israeli peace activists launched a new political party, ‘A Place for Us All’, based on a Jewish-Arab partnership, on June 16 in Nazareth, ahead of national elections scheduled for the end of 2026.
The party, presented in the largest Arab city in Israel, aims to provide a new political home for Jews and Arabs working towards peace, equality, social justice, and combating violence and crime, according to the party’s statement. It will be led by Rula Daoud and Alon-Lee Green, co-directors of the Israeli-Palestinian grassroots movement Standing Together.
According to the party, Rula Daoud is the only woman currently leading a national political party in Israel and the first Palestinian woman to hold this position. About 21% of Israel’s population consists of the Arab minority, most of whom identify as Palestinians who remained in the area that is now Israel after its creation in 1948.
‘This is the last moment to save our society. We are being left behind, killed, our future is being burned’, said Rula Daoud, adding that to address the situation, it is not enough to simply discuss what they oppose; they also need to clearly articulate what they support.
Priorities and political context
The party stated that it will focus on issues such as the lack of security amid the ongoing war, the high cost of living, the housing crisis, planning and construction challenges, and the absence of educational solutions. Additionally, it seeks to promote an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, which it describes as an urgent matter that has been sidelined.
Alon-Lee Green called for cooperation among opposition forces seeking to replace the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The party’s launch came a day after Netanyahu, a veteran of Israeli politics, confirmed his intention to seek a new mandate.
Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister of Israel, has led the country through three years of war on several interconnected fronts and is facing growing internal criticism regarding his wartime leadership. The scheduled elections, in which Netanyahu is seeking a new mandate, are set to take place by the end of October.
Source: The Straits Times