Israel election: Left alliance Hadash-Ta’al wins five seats in Knesset

Ayman Odeh (right) with Ta'al leader Ahmad Tibi.

The left-wing joint list Hadash-Ta’al, which is supported by the Communist Party, has received five seats in the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) following November 1st legislative election which marked the return of the far-right Netanyahu leadership. The ultra-conservative Likud Party won 32 seats in Knesset and is back in government. 

The eight parties of what might be termed the “anti-Netanyahu bloc” – comprising the outgoing coalition parties, together with Hadash-Ta’al and Arab Balad party — attained near-parity, with 2,330,464 votes. 

In his first reaction to the results, Hadash chairman and MP, Ayman Odeh, said that the people must stand firm against fascism and racism.

Hadash MP Aida Touma-Sliman says that the new political reality in the wake of the election should be “frightening for everyone,” and that a period of soul-searching is necessary. “We are facing a political reality that should be frightening for everyone,” says the lawmaker. “It is a reality in which we have a right wing, and not just the usual ‘classic’ right that we know, but a right wing willing to use violence, wild incitement and deep racism. This reality should be a warning point for everyone,” she tells the Ynet news site.

A front page article published in Zo Haderech, the official gazette of the Communist Party of Israel, is titled: "The Left is back in the streets", pointing out that "the fight against the racist right-wing government will be Jewish-Arab or not at all". 

IN DEFENSE OF COMMUNISM ©