Otzma Yehudit Seeks to Disqualify Ra'am Party and Mansour Abbas from Elections

The Otzma Yehudit party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has submitted a formal request to the Central Elections Committee to disqualify the Arab party Ra'am and its leader, MK Mansour Abbas, from participating in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. The 39-page petition, filed by attorneys Ze'ev Wolf and David Bavli, cites grounds for disqualification under Israeli law, including negating Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state and supporting armed struggle by an enemy state or terror organization against Israel.

Otzma Yehudit claims to possess new evidence, primarily a report from the Registrar of Associations concerning the "Si'ah 48" organization. They allege this organization is a social arm of Ra'am and the Southern Islamic Movement, and that the report details financial transfers and collaborations between "Si'ah 48" and entities designated as terror organizations. The petition also asserts organizational and ideological links between Ra'am, the Islamic Movement, and other associations to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Registrar's report previously identified significant flaws, financial irregularities, and ties to terror groups within "Si'ah 48," recommending its dissolution due to ongoing illegality and mismanagement. The organization's bank accounts were previously frozen due to transfers to a Turkish organization linked to Hamas.

The petition further alleges that two other Ra'am-affiliated organizations, "Si'ah 48" and "Humanitarian Deeds," transferred millions of shekels to entities connected to Hamas and other terror groups. Otzma Yehudit references a past Knesset exchange where Ben-Gvir warned about Ra'am's activities, and Abbas responded that evidence of funds reaching terrorists would be undeniable. The petitioners now claim their gathered documents provide this evidence. They are also requesting the Elections Committee chairman, Justice Noam Sohlberg, to disclose information regarding any investigations by the police and Shin Bet into Ra'am, Abbas, and related associations.

Otzma Yehudit criticizes the high legal threshold set by the Supreme Court for disqualifying candidates, arguing that past rulings have allowed individuals with severe anti-Israel stances and support for "resistance" (termed by the petitioners as a euphemism for armed struggle) to serve in the Knesset. They cite the example of former Balad chairman Azmi Bishara, who fled Israel amid suspicions of aiding Hezbollah. The party contends that the October 7th Hamas attacks necessitate a stricter legal approach towards parties and candidates accused of supporting terrorism.

Minister Ben-Gvir stated, "The legislator had his say years ago, but the court ignored the law and legitimized dozens of terrorists here and allowed them to serve in the Knesset. The time has come to say enough is enough. The time has come to implement the law and disqualify the terror organization called Ra'am and its leader, the Muslim Brotherhood man Mansour Abbas." The Central Elections Committee will deliberate on the request, with any final decision subject to review by the Supreme Court.