Balad MK calls decision by Ra'am faction leader Mansour Abbas to skip out on vote and break ranks with rest of party "a blow to the platform of the Joint List"

But Likud minister says Gantz 'unworthy' of being PM; talks between coalition parties continue ahead of preliminary reading Wed. of bill dissolving Knesset, compromise unlikely

Mansour Abbas, leader of Ra'am faction in Joint List, gives interview to right-wing TV network, sparking accusation from Balad faction that he's effectively quitting the party

Mansour Abbas, who drew fire from his opposition colleagues for helping Likud overturn a Knesset vote last week, is a conservative Muslim urging ‘pragmatic’ Arab Israeli politics

Newly elected to the Joint List, self-described feminist Iman Khatib-Yasin has widespread support from both sexes as she accuses the Jewish state of the ultimate sexist suppression

The consolidation of Arab factions creates an unlikely band of religious zealots, social democrats, racist agitators -- and pragmatic centrists - that is the 3rd-largest in Knesset

Ra'am's Iman Khatib-Yassin, 15th on Arab-led slate, says that she 'especially wants to raise the voice of women'

Ayman Odeh accuses Benny Gantz of assisting Netanyahu in keeping Arab lawmakers out of power, says Blue and White chief's politics are 'not ripe'

Ayman Odeh accuses Benny Gantz of lacking courage after center-left party all but rejects possibility of Arab-led faction joining coalition

Arab MKs seethe over Ayman Odeh's apparent change of long-held stance; Likud, other right-wing parties bash Gantz and Lapid over prospect of Jewish-Arab alliance