Arab Parties and MKs Defend Against Knesset Candidacy Bans
The Adalah Legal Center submitted responses on Friday, September 18, 2026, to the Central Elections Committee on behalf of the United Arab List, the Joint List, the National Democratic Alliance (Balad), its chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh, and MK Ofer Cassif. These responses counter petitions seeking to disqualify their candidacies in the upcoming Knesset elections.
Adalah argued against the disqualification of the United Arab List, stating that petitions from Otzma Yehudit, Likud, and the right-wing "Bo Harim Bahayim" forum lacked any evidence of support for "armed struggle" by a terrorist organization or enemy state. The center highlighted the United Arab List's initial opposition to Hamas's October 7th actions and noted that its chairman, Dr. Mansour Abbas, actively worked for the release of Israeli hostages.
In response to the Likud's petition against the Joint List, Adalah asserted that the request was arbitrary and misleading, relying on old, previously debated, and even Supreme Court-settled evidence. The center contended that proposed legislation cited in the petition had been presented in prior Knesset terms without leading to disqualification attempts.
Regarding the petition to disqualify Balad, filed by "Orot HaShachar - Everyone's Party," Adalah pointed out that the petitioners singled out Balad as an independent entity for disqualification, despite its participation within the Joint List. Adalah stated the petition lacked evidence and relied on inaccurate information.
MK Ofer Cassif, facing a disqualification request from the Likud based on accusations of "aiding the enemy during wartime," refuted the claims as distorted quotes intended to create a misleading impression. Cassif criticized the ruling party's policies for Israel's "miserable diplomatic situation" and called the attempt to find a scapegoat "a shameful fascist practice."
Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of Balad, also responded to a disqualification petition from Otzma Yehudit and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Adalah argued that attributing "support for violence" to Abu Shehadeh was a baseless political maneuver, contradicting his consistent condemnation of harm to innocents, both Jewish and Arab, before and after October 7th.
The Central Elections Committee is scheduled to discuss these disqualification petitions on September 23, 2026.
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