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Israel’s Supreme Court on Friday overturned a Central Elections Committee decision barring two Arab electoral lists from contesting the October 27 Knesset election.
The court heard appeals on 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” reported that the judges ruled by a majority that Cassif was eligible to run, while unanimously allowing both lists to take part in the election.
Candidate withdraws after court recommendation
Separately, Sami Abu Shehadeh, a Joint List candidate and leader of the National Democratic Assembly party, announced on Thursday evening that he was withdrawing his candidacy. The Supreme Court had advised him to do so after a majority of judges indicated they favored disqualifying him.
Arab lawmakers projected to win 12 to 14 seats
Arab citizens make up about 20% of Israel’s population of 10 million. Opinion polls project Arab lawmakers will win between 12 and 14 of the Knesset’s 120 seats.
Requests to disqualify the Arab lists were submitted to the Central Elections Committee by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s far-right Jewish Power party and other right-wing groups. The committee approved the requests in September.
