Arab parties closed a historic unity deal on Thursday night that would form a united bloc for the upcoming elections. Despite the united list, the parties still maintain unresolved ideological differences, but it is meant to gain the maximum number of seats. The parties – United Arab List, Ta'al, Hadash and Balad – finally were able to close a deal to run together. The discussions revolve around the possibility of running together on one list or on two separate lists. A decision to raise the electoral threshold to 3.25 percent of the vote to win seats in the Knesset has forced the parties to band together.
(photo credit: The Jerusalem Post)