Ra’am (United Arab List) chair MK Mansour Abbas made a significant statement during a Saturday interview with Channel 12’s Meet the Press, announcing that his party would disengage from the Shura Council and the Muslim Brotherhood. This decision comes as the United Arab List plans to establish independent institutions to address any gaps created by this potential split. However, the party has not yet issued an official response to these remarks.
This development follows the U.S. government’s designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization under former President Donald Trump. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have expressed support for this move, stating that the Islamist group poses a threat to stability in the Middle East. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel had already banned part of the organization and was working to complete this action soon.
In response to Trump’s actions, the Islamic Movement in Israel quickly distanced itself from any ties to the Muslim Brotherhood in the U.S. or elsewhere. Safwat Freij, head of the Islamic Movement in Israel and chairman of the Shura Council, stated, “We have confirmed repeatedly, unequivocally, and without ambiguity that we do not belong to the Muslim Brotherhood movement, neither organizationally nor politically, and we have no connection or affiliation to it, neither organically nor institutionally.” He added, “Our independence is not a claim, but rather the organizational, practical, and intellectual reality determined by the movement’s founder and its leaders after him.”
Michael Barak, a senior researcher at Reichman University’s Institute for Counter-Terrorism, described the move as “a purely cosmetic one” aimed at silencing right-wing politicians. He suggested that the Islamic Movement in Israel is reacting to fears of enforcement measures and sanctions against its members due to Trump’s actions against the Muslim Brotherhood. Barak also noted that in 2017, Hamas announced its disassociation from the Muslim Brotherhood due to concerns over Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s policies, despite maintaining ideological ties.
History of the Islamic Movement in Israel
The Islamic Movement in Israel was founded in the 1970s by Abdullah Nimar Darwish, drawing inspiration from the writings of the Muslim Brotherhood. In the 1990s, the movement split into two factions: the southern faction, which entered Israeli politics through the United Arab List under Abbas and adopted a more pragmatic approach to integration, and the northern faction, led by Raed Salah and Kamal Khatib. The northern faction was outlawed in 2015 due to allegations of incitement and ties to hostile actors.
Following the 2015 decision, Salah, Khatib, and Salman Abu Ahmed were summoned for questioning. Since then, anyone associated with the organization, providing services to it, or operating within its framework faces criminal charges, including imprisonment. Property belonging to the organization can also be confiscated.
Hamas, defined as the official Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in the 1980s, has developed ideological and personal connections with activists in the Islamic Movement in Israel. Researchers note that while there is no proven direct command link between U.S. bodies and the Islamic Movement in Israel, there is a clear overlap in ideology, religious language, and social and political worldviews.
Does Abbas Plan to Retire from Politics?
In March, Abbas announced his intention to retire from politics after the next election campaign. “I have one more opportunity. I will probably run in the next elections and try to achieve the goals I’ve set for myself,” he said. “I don’t think I need to continue being a Knesset member after that.” He added that “it’s better to be on a mission, to come and try to do things, and then give others a chance,” referring to leading his party in the Knesset.
Yuval Levy contributed to this report.