Israel’s Supreme Court hears appeals over Arab candidates’ election bans

A nine-judge panel of Israel’s Supreme Court heard appeals against bans on Arab lists and candidates ahead of the Oct. 27 election and advised Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh to withdraw.

A nine-judge panel of Israel’s Supreme Court in West Jerusalem heard appeals on Thursday against the Central Elections Committee’s decisions to bar Arab electoral lists and candidates from the Oct. 27 Knesset election, including Ra’am, the Joint List of Hadash, Ta’al and Balad, Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh and Hadash lawmaker Ofer Cassif.

The Knesset plenary (file)

Balad party leader Sami Abu Shehadeh (file)

Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit told Abu Shehadeh that a majority of the judges favored disqualifying him and gave him until Friday to withdraw. Arab lawmakers and supporters protested outside the court, while far-right groups demonstrated against Arab participation. Analysts warn the bans could leave Arab citizens, about 20% of the population, without representation.

Ra’am party leader Mansour Abbas (file, 2023)