Likud and Otzma Yehudit Seek to Disqualify Arab Parties from Elections

The Likud party announced on September 14th that it plans to petition the Central Elections Committee to disqualify Arab political lists from participating in upcoming elections. This follows a similar move by Otzma Yehudit, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir. Likud stated that "there is no place in the Israeli Knesset for those who harm IDF soldiers and are unable to say that Hamas and Hezbollah are terrorist organizations." The party further asserted that these "supporters of terror are natural partners for Gadi Eisenkot, with whom he wants to form a government alongside Yair Golan and Lieberman."

Earlier, Ben-Gvir had argued that Mansour Abbas's party, Ra'am, only "declaratively recognizes the Jewish character of the state in order to avoid disqualification, along with his refusal to define Hamas as a terrorist organization." He characterized Abbas and his party as "saboteurs, supporters of Hamas," and a "wolf in sheep's clothing" that should be expelled from the Knesset.

According to Ynet commentator Amir Ettinger, the underlying goal for Likud and Otzma Yehudit is to amplify their main campaign slogans. If the opposition does not support the disqualification of Arab lists, Netanyahu's camp intends to promote the narrative that the "change bloc" plans to collaborate with Ra'am again.

Analysts estimate that neither Ra'am nor the United List will ultimately be disqualified. The process for disqualifying a party or candidate begins with a petition to the Central Elections Committee, which can be initiated by any party under Basic Law: The Knesset, Article 7-Aleph. Disqualification is possible if a party denies Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state, incites racism, or supports terrorist organizations against Israel.

The Central Elections Committee, chaired by Judge Noam Solberg, reviews such petitions. The committee's plenum, where larger parties have more representatives, then votes. Decisions can be appealed to the High Court of Justice (Bagatz), which has historically overturned disqualifications of Arab lists, citing the constitutional right to elect and be elected, and viewing disqualification as an exceptional measure. In the past, the committee has disqualified Ra'am, Hadash-Ta'al, and Balad, but Bagatz reversed these decisions. In 2021, Likud boycotted the vote on the United List, stating that while they vote against it, Bagatz always allows it, and the list uses this to gain votes.