Right-wing lawmakers lambasted Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas on Sunday after he said in an interview with an Arab newspaper that his party is pursuing ways to resume the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
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At this time, Abbas, who chairs parliament's Special Committee on Arab Society, has no official role in the efforts to revive the peace talks, moribund since 2014.
In an interview published over the weakened by the London-based Al-Quds-Al-Arabi newspaper, Abbas said that he could not elaborate on the efforts his party has undertaken over "sensitive political issues" pertaining to the talks.
The Islamist Ra'am party, which broke away from the more radical Joint Arab List faction ahead of the March 23 elections, made history last month when it became part of the coalition put together by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Prime Minister-designate Yair Lapid.
The decision to join the coalition stemmed from "a strategy of the wasati approach in Islam, which is more moderate and pragmatic and opposes violence and is our inspiration, especially given the unique circumstances by which Arabs live in Israel," he explained referring to the principles separating the Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement from the radical Northern Branch.
Abbas stressed that his party has no intention of weighing in on the way Palestinians live in Gaza or elsewhere, adding he expects what he described as "external Islamic elements" to "steer clear of the way Arab Israelis want to live their lives as a Muslim community."
The Islamic Movement in Israel doesn't interfere in Hamas' affairs in Gaza and vice versa, he said, rejecting assertions that the terrorist group controlling the Gaza Strip excoriated Ra'am for becoming part of the Israeli government.
He spared no criticism from the Joint Arab List, saying that there was a "complete disconnect" between Ra'am and the alliance comprising Balad, Ta'al, and Hadash.
"We don't even say hello to each other in the [Knesset] hallway," he said, adding that political animosity aside, he has a good relationship with Ta'al leader MK Ahmad Tibi.
The Joint Arab List, Abbas said, "Is focused on hollow slogans. It took credit for promoting the [five-year government] plan for the advancement of the Arab sector, but that was the success of Arab mayors. They [Joint Arab List MKs] didn't deserve the credit."
He further criticized the most hawkish JAL member, Balad, saying the policies it pursues "will only weaken Arab society. We have to stick to the idea of integrating into [Israeli] society while preserving our identity. [Hollow] slogans will only ensure Arab Israelis are marginalized."
Abbas' statements earned him scathing criticism from Likud MKs.
"This has to alarm all of us – there is a disaster about to happen on this new, bad government's watch," former coalition whip MK Miki Zohar said.
"The public should be aware of the fact that this government is willing to sell everything to remain in power. … They are willing to sell Israel's security to ensure the survival of this dangerous left-wing government, which is devoid any national responsibility."
Likud MK Shlomo Karhi added, "The government of deception headed by Bennett, [Interior Minister Ayelet] Shaked, and [Justice Minister Gideon] Sa'ar has already sold all of its principles, so it thinks little of placing Israel at risk and making the Palestinians the focus again, after a decade in which, under [former PM Benjamin] Netanyahu they have become irrelevant."
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