The year is 2020. Yousef Jabareen, now chairman of the Joint List, then a rank-and-file Knesset member, arrives at Kaplan Medical Center to visit Maher al-Akhras—a prominent ‘Palestinian’ Islamic Jihad terrorist in Judea and Samaria on a hunger strike protesting his administrative detention.
3+In a video filmed in the hospital room, Jabareen declared: “We stand by his side. His medical condition is serious,” adding, “We are investing all efforts to bring about his release and save his life.” Now, in 2026, after the Joint List achieved a historic eleven seats in the Knesset, the argument is being made that Zionist parties must not cooperate with it because some of its members are outright terror supporters. Here are three documented cases of Joint List members and their exposed connections to terror organizations.
Yosef Jabareen: The Speech Alongside Islamic Jihad Leader
“Our project, my brothers and sisters, is a project of unity, it is a project of struggle, and it is a project of defiance.” Those were the words Yosef Jabareen spoke at a conference in the village of Duma near Nablus in 2015.
3+He came to that conference as a Knesset member, but that didn’t stop him from speaking beneath portraits of Yasser Arafat, Ahmed Yassin, and Fathi Shaqaqi, founder of Islamic Jihad. Alongside Jabareen, his close friend Khader Adnan—one of Islamic Jihad’s senior operatives in Judea and Samaria—took the stage to speak.
Youssef Atauna: The Anti-Trump Protest and Anti-American Messages
Knesset member Youssef Atauna is a Bedouin resident of the Negev who was placed fourth on the Joint List in the recent elections. In 2017, Atauna participated in a demonstration against Trump’s plan to move the American embassy to Jerusalem, where he posted footage of himself holding a sign reading in Arabic, “America is the head of the snake,” and another sign reading, “Trump is the new Balfour.” That same year, he also posted a protest image showing himself with the caption: “Jerusalem is the capital of ‘Palestine’.”
3+Ahmad Darawshe: From Pro-“Prisoner” Conference to Visiting Islamic Jihad Operative
Ahmad Darawshe, placed ninth on the Joint List, is a young attorney and protégé of Ahmad Tibi, for whom he worked as an adviser for years. In 2013, Draoushe hosted a “prisoner support” conference where he welcomed the mother of hunger-striking terrorist Samer al-Issawi.
That terrorist was sentenced to 30 years in prison for involvement in shooting attacks, was released in the Shalit deal, and was re-imprisoned after returning to terrorism. In his welcoming speech to the terrorist’s family, Draoushe said: “The family of the ‘Palestinian’ prisoner Samer al-Issawi, welcome. We are proud that you are among us.” He continued: “Inshallah we will continue our support on the issue of prisoners.”
3+In 2020, Draoushe visited Islamic Jihad terrorist Maher al-Akhras, who appeared at the beginning of this article. The visit included his mentor Tibi and Knesset member Ofer Cassif, who flashed a victory sign for the camera.
When those who oppose cooperation with Arab Knesset members are accused of racism and exclusion, it’s important to remember that there are Joint List members whose connections to terror elements are documented and supported by evidence.