Arab Parties and MKs Respond to Disqualification Bids

The Adalah Legal Center has submitted responses to the Central Elections Committee on behalf of the United Arab List, the Joint List, the National Democratic Alliance, Sami Abed Al-Rahman, and MK Ofer Cassif, against disqualification requests filed for the upcoming Knesset elections. The responses argue that the petitions lack evidence and are based on distorted or outdated information.

Adalah's response for the United Arab List, filed against petitions from Otzma Yehudit and Likud, asserts there is no evidence of the party supporting "armed struggle" by a terrorist organization or enemy state, nor any other grounds for disqualification. The response highlights the party's opposition to Hamas's October 7th actions and notes that its leader, Mansour Abbas, has actively worked for the release of Israeli hostages.

Regarding the Joint List, Adalah's response to a Likud petition calls it arbitrary and misleading, citing mostly old evidence previously discussed or settled by the Supreme Court. It argues that proposed legislation used as a basis for the petition was from previous Knesset terms and never used for disqualification bids before.

For the National Democratic Alliance, Adalah's response to a petition from Orot HaShachar argues the request improperly targets the party as an independent entity for disqualification, despite its participation within the Joint List. The response claims the petition lacks evidence and relies on inaccurate information.

MK Ofer Cassif, in his response to a Likud petition, refutes accusations of "aiding the enemy during wartime," calling the claims based on distorted quotes. He stated, "The ruling party has no one to blame but itself, as its failed policy has led the State of Israel to its miserable diplomatic situation... Trying to find a scapegoat to bear responsibility for the government's criminal actions and failures is a shameful fascist practice."

Sami Abed Al-Rahman's response to a petition from Otzma Yehudit and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir argues that attributing "support for violence" to him is a baseless political maneuver. He emphasized his consistent condemnation of harming innocents, both Jewish and Arab, before and after October 7th.

The Central Elections Committee is scheduled to discuss these disqualification requests on September 23, 2026.