Joint Arab List leaders urge increased European Union involvement in Israel

Leaders of the Joint Arab List met with European Union ambassadors at the EU offices in Tel Aviv on Thursday. The meeting, attended by Yousef Jabareen, Ahmad Tibi, Sami Abu Shehadeh, Jafar Farah, and Ofer Cassif, followed the announcement of an electoral alliance between the Hadash-Ta'al and Balad parties. According to a report by the news site Al-Jarmaq, the representatives emphasized the importance of their unification to boost voter turnout and increase Arab representation in the Knesset. During the session, the Joint List representatives alleged that attempts to disqualify Arab candidates constitute a violation of the political and civil rights of Arab citizens in Israel. They further claimed that Israeli government policy contradicts the stance of the international community and hinders diplomatic progress. The delegation also presented challenges facing Arab society, including rising crime, housing shortages, home demolitions, and funding gaps in education and social services. Concluding the meeting, the leaders called on EU nations to increase their involvement in Israel to counter what they described as policies of racism and extremism, and to protect democratic values and human rights.