Likud Seeks to Disqualify Arab Party Ra'am from Knesset Elections

The Likud party has officially petitioned the Central Elections Committee to disqualify the Arab party Ra'am from competing in the 26th Knesset elections. The petition, filed on Monday, argues that Ra'am's activities and statements demonstrate a denial of Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state, and support for armed struggle by a terrorist organization against Israel.

Likud's request cites Section 7a of the Knesset Basic Law, asserting that Ra'am's actions provide grounds for disqualification. The party claims this is not based on isolated remarks but on an accumulated pattern derived from the party's activities, affiliated groups, and statements by its leaders over the years. A significant portion of the petition focuses on the alleged ties between Ra'am and the Islamic Movement, from which Ra'am emerged, presenting evidence that the Islamic Movement's ideology remains a basis for Ra'am's operations even after its entry into parliament.

Furthermore, the petition addresses the "Aid 48" association, alleging connections between it and entities identified with Hamas. Likud points to legal materials, past publications, and financial activities as support for claims of ties extending beyond humanitarian work. The party argues that public statements by Ra'am leaders presenting a moderate stance should not be the sole basis for evaluation, and that messages directed at other audiences and the activities of groups affiliated with the Islamic Movement reveal a discrepancy.

Likud concludes that the presented evidence justifies preventing Ra'am's participation in the upcoming elections and urges the committee to exercise its authority under the Knesset Basic Law. This move follows a similar petition filed by the Otzma Yehudit party and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, which also cited the denial of the state's Jewish character and support for armed struggle as grounds for disqualification.