The predominately Arab alliance of parties - the Joint List on Thursday, split with the Balad faction announcing it would run separately despite little chance it will succeed to pass the minimum Knesset threshold of four seats.
As polling indicates a low turn out of Arab voters, the split poses further challenges to the Arab political representatives.
Low voter participation and the dramatic last minute split, bolsters the chances for Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc to form the next government.