Arab Change Movement Leader Criticizes Election Disqualifications

Dr. Ahmad Tibi, head of the Arab Change Movement and second candidate on the Joint List, has strongly condemned the Central Elections Committee's decisions to disqualify the Joint List, the Unified List, Sami Abu Shehadeh, and MK Ofer Cassif. Tibi described these actions as an unprecedented escalation against Arab representation, aiming to curb the political influence of Arab voters.

Speaking on Radio al-Shams, Tibi highlighted the unusual participation of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, head of the Central Elections Committee, in the vote to disqualify Abu Shehadeh. Sohlberg's vote in favor of disqualification, a move not seen from committee heads in nearly two decades, was seen by Tibi as a worrying indicator of potential outcomes in the Supreme Court.

Tibi characterized the disqualifications as a "guillotine for Arab parties," noting that right-wing parties initiated the requests, with some opposition parties also participating in the votes. He attributed the committee's decisions to the current political composition of the Knesset, but expressed concern that the scale of disqualifications in a single session sends a message beyond the current elections, reflecting increased Israeli hostility towards Arab citizens post-October 7.

The disqualification of Arab representative lists, Tibi argued, infringes upon the Arab public's right to political representation. He confirmed that all cases, including those of the Joint List, Unified List, Abu Shehadeh, and Cassif, are now proceeding through the judicial process.

Tibi specifically criticized Sohlberg's vote, stating it broke with the tradition of committee heads remaining neutral in such matters. Sohlberg reportedly voted to disqualify Abu Shehadeh after deeming his explanations regarding an October 8, 2023 article insufficient. Tibi expressed hope that the Supreme Court will uphold the principles of candidacy and election freedom, while acknowledging Sohlberg's participation might foreshadow the judicial path ahead.

He linked the disqualifications to fears of increased Arab voter turnout, suggesting that such measures could motivate Arab citizens to vote in greater numbers if the lists are reinstated. Tibi urged the Arab public to view voting as a tool for political influence and emphasized that the elections remain the primary arena for confronting these decisions. He also commented on the stances of Yair Golan and Avigdor Lieberman regarding some disqualification requests, suggesting they could impact post-election cooperation between opposition factions and Arab parties.