An additional obstacle to mass mobilization at the moment is that the political parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel are preoccupied with the elections to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, scheduled to take place in March.

Four such parties have formed the United Arab List in order to contest the elections as a joint force.

Was the United Arab List created solely to win seats after the threshold for the percentage of votes needed to secure representation was raised? Or will it also work to achieve grassroots unity in the struggle for Palestinian rights? This remains to be seen.

What is certain, however, is that Palestinian parties must come up with a new strategy if a sustained movement is to be created. Formal unity for the sake of winning parliamentary seats will not suffice.

Read more: Why Palestinians should unite to support Naqab protests – Electronic Intifada