Balad (The National Democratic Alliance) announced late Sunday, July 28, that it will be running in the September 17 elections for the 22nd Knesset as part of the Joint List together with Hadash and two additional Arab parties, Ta’al and Ra’am. Balad’s decision effectively resurrects the Joint List, first founded in 2015, which split into two rivaling factions ahead of last April’s national election.

Balad, made its declaration a day after Hadash, Ta’al and Ra’am, announced at a press conference in Nazareth they will be running together on a single slate in the upcoming elections.

Joint List candidates at the press conference held in Nazareth on Saturday, July 27; Speaking at the podium is Joint List leader, Hadash MK Ayman Odeh. (Photo: Al-Ittihad)

The head of Balad also told reporters that an overwhelming majority of the party’s 26-member Central Committee voted in favor of accepting the modified version of the proposal put together by the reconciliation committee set up last month specifically to revitalize the Joint List. According to the announcement, only one member of Balad’s Central Committee voted against returning to the Joint List and another abstained.

Joint List leader, MK Ayman Odeh (Hadash) said that he welcomes Balad’s decision, adding that “a large Joint List will wield greater influence than it has in the past in helping disadvantaged groups and working towards ending the occupation and instituting an equal society for all citizens.”

Related: Hadash, Ta’al and Ra’am to Run as a Renewed Joint List in Elections