Arab National Party Explained

Arab National Party
Leader:Muhamad Kanan
Founded:19 February 2001
Split:United Arab List
Ideology:Israeli Arab interest
National:Arab List
Seats1 Title:Most MKs
Seats1:2 (2001)
Seats2 Title:Fewest MKs
Seats2:0
Seats3 Title:Current MKs
Country:Israel

The Arab National Party (Hebrew: המפלגה הלאומית הערבית, HaMiflaga HaLeumit HaAravit; Arabic: الحزب القومي العربي, al-Hizb al-Qawmi al-Arabi) is a minor Israeli Arab political party in Israel led by Muhamad Kanan.

Background

The party was founded during the 15th Knesset when three Members of Knesset left the United Arab List; one founded National Unity – National Progressive Alliance, whilst the other two, Kanan and Tawfik Khatib created the Arab National Party.

The party did not participate in the 2003 elections, and in the run-up to the 2006 elections it looked like Kanan would join Hadash.[1] However, the party then entered the election race, before withdrawing and announcing its support for Balad,[2] though by then it was too late to take the party's name off the ballot. On election day the party picked up only 738 votes (0.02%), the second lowest in total and far below the electoral threshold of 2%.

The party contested the 2015 elections as part of the Arab List, an alliance with the Arab Democratic Party headed by Kanan. The alliance received just 4,301 votes (0.11%), failing to win a seat.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Yoav Stern . 9 February 2006 . Hadash seeks to boost support in Triangle . Haaretz . 14 January 2014.
  2. News: National Arab Party endorses National Democratic Assembly after withdrawing from race . Ynetnews . 8 March 2006 . 14 January 2014.