According to a report by Times Of Israel on Monday, November 24, 2025, Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas says the party is reviewing its legal options following remarks from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that were widely interpreted as a signal toward a possible ban on the Southern Islamic Movement and its political wing.
Netanyahu’s comments came after former U.S. president Donald Trump said he was preparing measures to classify the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization. Speaking in a media interview, Trump said final documents were being prepared. The Muslim Brotherhood has been outlawed in several countries over alleged ties to extremist activity.
Soon after the report, Netanyahu issued a public statement praising Trump’s position and announced that Israel intended to complete its own process of designating the organization as a terrorist group. He noted that part of the movement is already banned in Israel and said authorities are working to finalize remaining steps.
The Muslim Brotherhood has ideological ties to a range of Islamic movements, including Israel’s Southern Islamic Movement. Ra’am, which serves as the movement’s political branch, has consistently rejected claims that it maintains operational links to the Brotherhood. Abbas has repeatedly stressed that the party works within Israel’s legal framework and prioritizes community development and civil services.
The Southern Islamic Movement differs from its northern counterpart, which was outlawed in Israel several years ago. Ra’am entered national politics in 2021, joining the coalition led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, becoming the first independent Arab party to participate in a governing bloc.
In an interview on Monday, Abbas said the party is assessing the situation “from political and legal angles” and reviewing available information.
A move to outlaw the Southern Islamic Movement could affect Ra’am’s legal standing and participation in future elections. Concerns have been raised in political circles ahead of the national vote expected by October 2026, particularly regarding how such actions might affect Arab voter representation.
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