Uproar in Israel over rainbow flag in alleged smear campaign

An uproar has erupted in Israel after posters appeared during the election campaign showing Mansour Abbas, the leader of the Arab Ra’am party, and the second candidate on his electoral list, Yoav Segalovitz, alongside an Israeli flag and a rainbow flag. The posters appeared in central Israel in October 2026, including in Givatayim. According to Abbas’s party, the campaign is being orchestrated by right-wing parties seeking to turn conservative voters in the Arab community against its leadership.

Israel is preparing for its first parliamentary election since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. Israelis will elect a new parliament on Tuesday, October 27. The central question is whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can form another coalition. Arab parties, including Abbas’s Ra’am, could play a decisive role in forming the next government.

In recent days, posters depicting Ra’am members with both an Israeli flag and a rainbow flag have appeared in several cities. They also feature the Hebrew slogan "The New Israeli Story" and the Arabic text "Together We Will Bring Change". According to the party leadership, these elements are intended to make the posters look like official Ra’am campaign material. No sponsor is identified, which could violate Israel’s election campaign rules.

Ra’am says the campaign is intended to damage the party’s image among its voters and benefit right-wing parties. It stresses that it is responsible only for official campaign material bearing its logo.

Ra’am has repeatedly opposed the expansion of queer rights on religiously conservative grounds. Abbas notably opposed a bill to ban conversion therapy, as he confirmed in an interview published in 2021.