Israel committee votes to bar Arab lists and candidates

Israel’s Central Elections Committee voted to bar the Raam and Joint List electoral slates and to disqualify candidates Ofer Cassif and Sami Abu Shehadeh from the October 27 election. The decisions could affect the choices available to Arab voters, but they are not final: the Supreme Court is expected to review challenges before the election. The committee’s actions followed petitions alleging that the parties or candidates violated legal grounds for exclusion, including support for armed struggle against Israel or rejection of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. The claims against the candidates and lists are allegations, not findings by the Supreme Court. Reports differ on some committee vote totals, so the exact counts are unclear. Under Israeli election law, candidate disqualifications require Supreme Court approval to take effect, while electoral lists can appeal their exclusion. Adalah, the legal organization representing those affected, said it would challenge the decisions. The court’s rulings will determine whether the lists and candidates can appear on the ballot. The cases concern distinct decisions.