Central Elections Committee bars Arab Ra'am, Joint List parties from running in October elections

The Central Elections Committee voted on Wednesday to bar the Arab parties Ra'am and the Joint List from participating in the October 27 election, despite the Attorney-General's Office stating there was insufficient evidence for disqualification. The committee's decision, made by an 18-5 vote with one abstention, is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court next week. Ra'am faced three requests for disqualification, citing alleged connections to the Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement and charitable organizations linked to Hamas, as well as accusations of rejecting Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state, inciting racism, and supporting armed struggle. The Joint List was barred based on a request from Likud, which claimed the party rejected Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state and supported armed struggle, largely referencing Balad's platform.

Ra'am Chairman Mansour Abbas called the decision "political, improper, and anti-democratic," while the Joint List described it as "a political, racist, and anti-democratic decision."

Both parties anticipate the Supreme Court will overturn the committee's ruling, as previous similar disqualifications have been reversed.