Ayman Odeh: "The Entire Arab and Islamic World Offered Israel Peace, Recognition, and Normalization"

MK Ayman Odeh, chairman of Hadash-Ta'al, is not expected to run in the next elections, and in fact, this will be his final term in the Knesset. In an exclusive interview with 103fm, he called on the Arab parties to unite under one flag, addressed the possibility of Yoav Seglovich joining Ra'am, and revealed the nature of the relationship between the Arab MKs and the leaders of the future opposition.

"I appreciate Seglovich, even when he was in office he did a good job, and he is a person I appreciate so much. We need to talk about a political program, and whoever it suits - welcome," said Odeh. "The right thing from Ra'am's perspective is that we run together. Our public is thirsty for unity. People are shouting that they want unity." He wondered: "What is the importance of talking about people here and there before we and Ra'am are together?"

According to the Hadash chairman, "To my great regret, about a year ago we talked about a political program, and Mansour said we would settle for a technical list. We agreed, and said: let's run together, we will bring 70% turnout, and that will be the safest thing."

However, that is not what is happening now. After being asked if he believes Abbas is coordinated with the heads of the change bloc, he replied: "There is a chance. When the current opposition sees that it is closer to 61 mandates against Netanyahu, it prefers that Arab citizens vote less, that Arab citizens vote at 30%. It is not only that Netanyahu will move away from 61, but also the Zionist opposition will move away from a majority."

He admitted that he is not in contact with figures like Bennett or Eisenkot. "In the recent period, no. First of all, I am no longer a candidate, and also there is space for everyone in this period. Factually, for two-three-four months we have not been talking, when Eisenkot was in the Knesset we talked a lot," he said. He explained that too close coordination between him and the Zionist opposition parties might actually serve the opposing side. "As far as Netanyahu is concerned, he will do everything to incite against this."

"The entire Arab and Islamic world offered Israel peace, recognition, and normalization"

Regarding what is happening in Gaza, Odeh mentioned the Saudi initiative from 2002.

"Soon it will be 25 years since the Arab initiative: the entire Arab and Islamic world offered Israel peace, recognition, and normalization," said MK Odeh. "The Palestinian issue is the main motive. If there is peace with the Palestinians, will there be one regime that will be able to tell its people that it wants to invest money in weapons because 'we are more Palestinian than the Palestinians'?"

"I support a Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, and then there will be peace with both Arab countries and Islamic countries – this is the best thing for all of us," concluded the Hadash chairman. He mentioned that the Prime Minister accepted Trump's twenty-point plan, and added a slight jab in his direction: "In point 19 of this outline there is a Palestinian state, and everyone should remember that Netanyahu is in favor of this outline."