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Ayman Odeh was re-elected yesterday to lead Hadash, the only Arab-Jewish political party in Israel, for the elections on 9 April.

After the vote, held in the Arab town of Shfaram, Oden said: “Whoever wants us divided and weak will have us strong and united.”

Odeh is expected to lead the Joint (Arab) List, a political alliance of Arab parties which split recently after the departure of the Ta’al Party. In his speech Odeh said: “In the face of incitement, in the face of the Nation State Law, in the face of racism, in the face of despair, Hadash and the Joint (Arab) List will lead values of peace, equality, democracy and justice”. According to the most recent polls, Ta’al are currently predicted to win six seats, and the Joint List eight seats.

Balad, which is also part of the Joint List, convened in Nazareth on Saturday to choose their candidates for the elections. Delegates chose Dr. Mtanes Shehadeh as the new party leader. Shehadeh said that he will lead Balad by: “Sticking to its principles, maintaining its Palestinian identity and working towards full equality for Arab citizens of Israel”. Outgoing leader, Jamal Zahalka, criticised Ta’al for leaving the Joint List: “The Arab public will punish those who will cause the splitting of The Joint List, ignoring the public’s desire to continue with party unity.”

Jewish Home also nominated their new leader after the departure of Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked to form the New Right party. Former IDF Chief Rabbi Rafi Peretz was chosen by a council of prominent party members to lead the party. He is expected to enter negotiations with the National Union party, now led by the MK Bezalel Smotrich. The parties ran together in the last election, and are expected to do so again. According to the most recent polls Jewish Home are predicted to win four seats but may not win more than 3.25 per cent of the vote and so would not enter the next Parliament.

Otzma Yehudit, a far-right party which hopes to merge with Jewish Home and National Union, released a statement congratulating Peretz. It called on Peretz to: “Understand the weight of the moment and to enter immediately, tomorrow morning, negotiations to set up a technical block that will collect votes of those loyal to the people of Israel and the Torah of Israel.”