Knesset Election Committee Disqualifies MK Ofer Cassif

The Central Elections Committee, chaired by Judge Noam Sohlberg, has begun deliberations on requests to disqualify candidates and slates from the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. Among the petitions discussed is one filed by the Likud party seeking to bar MK Ofer Cassif from running.

In a majority decision, the committee ruled that Cassif will not be permitted to stand for election in the 26th Knesset. The committee is scheduled to hold two days of hearings on these disqualification requests.

Further discussions will address a petition by the Otzma Yehudit party to disqualify Sami Abu Shehadeh, head of the National Democratic Alliance party. The committee will also review a request to disqualify the United Arab List. Petitions have also been submitted concerning the Religious Zionism party, the Democrats, and Otzma Yehudit.

Later sessions are expected to cover a Likud and "Orot Hashachar" party request to prevent the Joint List and the National Democratic Alliance from participating in the elections. The committee's proceedings are ongoing.