Ben Gvir, Gottlieb Lead Effort to Disqualify Arab Knesset Candidates

Otzma Yehudit party leaders, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Knesset Member Tally Gottlieb, will personally represent their party in the Central Elections Committee hearings concerning the disqualification of the Ra'am party and Balad Chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh from running in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. The legal battle centers on Section 7a of the Basic Law: The Knesset, which allows for the disqualification of candidates or parties based on denying Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state, incitement to racism, or supporting an armed struggle by an enemy state or terror organization against Israel.

Otzma Yehudit has submitted two separate disqualification requests. One targets the Ra'am party, while the other specifically targets Abu Shehadeh. The request against Abu Shehadeh cites an article he published on October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas's deadly attack, which the party claims, along with other statements, demonstrates support for a terror organization's armed struggle against Israel. The request also accuses him of supporting convicted security prisoners and working to negate the state's Jewish character.

Ben Gvir has previously criticized Supreme Court rulings for allegedly approving terror supporters running for the Knesset, stating, "The time has come for a systemic and conceptual change." The disqualification request against Ra'am is one of three submitted, with others from the Likud party and the "Choresim BeHaim" forum.

Ra'am and Abu Shehadeh have vehemently denied the accusations, attributing them to political motives. Ra'am, represented by the Adalah Center, argued that the petitions lack evidence of support for an armed struggle by an enemy state or terror group. Abu Shehadeh stated that accusations of supporting violence are baseless, emphasized his condemnation of harm to innocents after October 7, and called for a political settlement, noting that his party's platform of "A State for All Its Citizens" has been previously approved by the Supreme Court.

The hearings will be held in person before Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg. Given the high evidentiary bar set by the Supreme Court for disqualifications, any decision by the Central Elections Committee is expected to be the first step in a prolonged legal process, with final rulings subject to review by the High Court of Justice.