The Israeli Supreme Court allows two Arab lists to participate in the legislative elections
Quick Look
The Israeli Supreme Court annulled the Election Commission’s decision to exclude two Arab lists from the legislative elections scheduled for October 27, and approved their participation unanimously, while it invalidated the candidacy of MP Sami Abu Shehadeh because he described the October 7 attack as an “important historical event,” and fined National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir 10,000 shekels for publishing a video threatening to execute a Palestinian detainee.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
These decisions come in light of ongoing tensions between the Israeli government and Arab forces inside Israel, especially after the attack of October 7, 2023, as laws related to denying the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state are used to exclude Arab candidates from the elections, while the Supreme Court relies on a broader interpretation of freedom of expression and political participation.
The Israeli Supreme Court on Friday allowed the participation of two lists with an Arab majority in the legislative elections scheduled for October 27, canceling the Election Commission’s decision to exclude them at the request of the ruling coalition.
The Central Elections Committee voted last September 23, at the request of members of the coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to annul the candidacy of the two lists, based on a law prohibiting the participation of any party or person who “denies the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state,” or supports armed action by “a hostile state or terrorist organization against Israel.”
In three separate decisions, the Supreme Court found that “the arguments presented by the Election Commission” were not sufficient to invalidate the candidacy of the “Unified Arab List” and the “Joint List,” which includes three parties with an Arab majority, according to the rulings seen by Agence France-Presse.
The Joint List includes the parties of the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash), the National Democratic Rally (Balad), and the Arab Movement for Change. As for the United Arab List (Ra’em), it has a moderate Islamic orientation, headed by MP Mansour Abbas, and in late August included a Jewish candidate, Yoav Segalovich, a former police official.
The Supreme Court, which almost systematically invalidates exclusion decisions issued by the Election Commission, unanimously allowed the two lists to run in the elections.
Invalidating Sami Abu Shehadeh’s candidacy
In addition to the two lists, the Elections Commission also invalidated the individual nominations of MP Ofer Kassif, a member of the Hadash Party, and Sami Abu Shehadeh, head of the Balad Party.
The Supreme Court approved Kassif’s eligibility to run for office by a majority of seven judges, compared to two who considered that he “supported armed action against the State of Israel.”
As for Sami Abu Shehadeh, the court ruled Thursday to invalidate his candidacy because he described the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel as an “important historical event.”
Imposing a fine on Minister of National Security Ben Gvir
On the other hand, the Israeli Central Elections Commission fined National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir because of a video clip he posted on the X platform in which he appears threatening to execute a Palestinian detainee, considering it part of electoral propaganda.
The Elections Commission ruled to delete the video, and imposed on Ben Gvir a fine of 10,000 shekels (about 3,250 dollars). According to the decision, the fine was not imposed because of the content of the video, but rather because the committee considered it a violation of electoral rules.
In this clip, which was widely circulated, the far-right minister appears confronting Hamas leader Hassan Salama, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment, threatening to execute him.
It is noteworthy that the Hamas movement, a Palestinian Islamic armed group, is classified by Germany, the European Union, the United States and other countries as a terrorist organization.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Election Commission will appeal the Supreme Court's decision to invalidate the candidacy of Arab lists before a higher court or seek to amend the law
Possible · Within weeks
Tension between the ruling coalition and Arab forces inside Israel will increase as the election date approaches
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- Will the Election Commission appeal the Supreme Court's decision?
- How will allowing the two Arab lists to participate affect the election results?
- Will the decision to invalidate Sami Abu Shehadeh's candidacy lead to protests within Arab society?
