Israel coalition talks put Arab party leader under pressure over Hamas

The question of whether Mansour Abbas, the leader of Israel’s United Arab List (Ra’am), is willing to recognise the Palestinian group Hamas as a “terrorist” organisation may determine whether his party will play a role in the country’s next government. According to Israel’s Ynet news website, Abbas has signalled to parties opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would agree to the designation in exchange for a “genuine partnership” in a coalition led by Gadi Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming a new government after last month’s elections. Eisenkot has made recognising Hamas as a “terrorist” group one of the conditions for joining his prospective coalition.