THE Joint List alliance of Arab-majority parties will stand at the next Israeli elections despite the departure of one of its constituent parties, the remaining three organisations say.

Leader of the Communist Party-led Hadash alliance — Israel’s only party with both Jewish and Arab members — Ayman Odeh MK will continue to head the Joint List alongside the Balad and Ta’al parties.

The Islamic Movement-affiliated United Arab List, known as Ra’am, has split from the group under Mansour Abbas MK, over differences including its opposition to gay rights and potential support for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial over corruption charges.

Hadash general secretary Mansour Dahamsheh said: “The Joint List is continuing without Abbas, who has chosen the side of the far-right government against democracy and the interests of the Arab community.”

A spokesman for the party added: “Joining, aiding or abetting the ... annexation of the occupied Palestinian territories is a red line from our perspective,” in relation to Mr Abbas’s “public pursuit” of ties with Mr Netanyahu.

Ra’am denounced the other parties for voting in support of “perverts” and “refusing to respect the values of religion and society” over Hadash’s support for a Bill banning conversion therapy for LGBT people.

No Arab party has ever formed part of an Israeli government, though Arabs make up a fifth of its citizens. But the longstanding stalemate between Mr Netanyahu’s Likud and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party has led to speculation that Mr Abbas hopes to be a “kingmaker” holding the balance of power in the Knesset.

He has accused the Joint List of “cooling their heels on the bench of the political arena,” a veiled dig at its refusal to support pro-settlement parties.