Israel’s Supreme Court overturns ban on 2 Arab lists running in Knesset election
Court unanimously allows Joint List, United Arab List to compete in Oct. 27 vote; majority also clears Ofer Cassif to run
Israel’s Supreme Court on Friday overturned a Central Elections Committee decision barring two Arab electoral lists from running in the Oct. 27 Knesset (parliament) election.
The ruling came after the court heard appeals Thursday from the Joint List, led by Yusuf Jabareen, the United Arab List, led by Mansour Abbas, and Joint List lawmaker Ofer Cassif.
Israel’s Channel 12 said the court ruled by a majority that Cassif was eligible to run.
“In addition, the judges unanimously decided to allow both the United Arab List and the Joint List to participate in the election,” the channel reported.
The ruling by Israel’s highest judicial body clears the way for both Arab lists to contest the election.
Separately, Sami Abu Shehadeh, a candidate on the Joint List and leader of the National Democratic Assembly party, announced Thursday evening that he was withdrawing his candidacy after the Supreme Court advised him to do so as a majority of judges favored disqualifying him.
Arab citizens make up around 20% of Israel’s population of 10 million, while opinion polls project Arab lawmakers to win between 12 and 14 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party, and other right-wing groups had submitted requests to disqualify the Arab lists to the Central Elections Committee, which approved them in September.
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