Israeli Supreme Court Clears Two Lists and Ofer Cassif

Israel’s Supreme Court on October 2 reversed the Central Elections Committee’s disqualifications of the Joint List and Ra’am, clearing both lists to contest the October 27 parliamentary election. The court also restored the candidacy of Ofer Cassif, a lawmaker from Hadash, by a 7-2 vote. Sami Abu Shehadeh, the Balad leader whose candidacy was also challenged, withdrew on October 1 after judges indicated that a majority appeared likely to uphold his disqualification. The court unanimously overturned the committee’s decisions against the Joint List, which includes Hadash, Ta’al and Balad, and Ra’am, also known as the United Arab List. The committee had voted on September 23 to disqualify the lists and individual candidates. The Supreme Court’s ruling leaves both lists eligible for the October 27 vote. In Cassif’s case, seven justices found the evidence insufficient to disqualify him, while two favored excluding him. The majority’s decision reversed the committee’s action against the lawmaker.