Election Committee Chair Opens Hearings with Prayer, MK Kariv Denounces 'Racist' Otzma Yehudit

The second day of election committee hearings opened with a prayer for the recovery of Neriah Leiter, who was injured in a recent attack. Committee chair MK Yitzhak Ofer led the prayer, emphasizing the need for healing and unity.

During the proceedings, MK Rabbi Gilad Kariv of the Labor party launched a sharp attack on the Otzma Yehudit party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Kariv stated, "Ministers and Knesset members who attend memorial events for Kahane are racists." He specifically criticized Otzma Yehudit for its alleged association with the ideology of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, whose Kach party was outlawed in Israel due to its extremist nature.

The hearings are addressing petitions to disqualify candidates from running in the upcoming elections. The focus of the day's discussions included the eligibility of candidates and parties based on their platforms and past actions, particularly concerning incitement and support for extremist ideologies. The committee is expected to issue rulings on these disqualification requests in the coming days, which could significantly impact the political landscape of the upcoming elections.