Israeli election committee bans Arab parties from standing in next month's vote
Israeli election committee bans Arab parties from standing in next month's vote Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Thu, 09/24/2026 - 10:40 Israeli opposition parties have supported the ban on Ra'am and Joint List, and on two candidates, which could leave Palestinian citizens without representation (L-R) Israeli politician Yoav Segalovitz and Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab Israeli party Ra'am, at a…
Israel's Central Elections Committee has ruled to bar two prominent Arab political parties and two of their candidates from competing in the upcoming parliamentary election on 27 October. The committee voted 18-5 to disqualify Ra'am and the Joint List, along with two Joint List members, Ofer Cassif and Sami Abou Shahadeh. This move, initiated by right-wing parties, has been supported by opposition parties and the attorney general's office, despite the Supreme Court's history of upholding such disqualifications.
The decision is now awaiting confirmation by the Supreme Court, which has historically overturned most attempts to bar Arab parties and candidates. Palestinian citizens, who make up about one-fifth of Israel's population, would be left without their main representation in the Knesset if the committee's decisions are upheld.
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