Israel's Election Committee Allows Far-Right Party to Run

Israel's Central Elections Committee, chaired by Judge Noam Solberg, has officially cleared the far-right "Otzma Yehudit" party to participate in parliamentary elections. The decision followed a challenge from the "Democrats" bloc, led by Yair Golan, and the "Zulat" human rights organization, which sought to disqualify Itamar Ben-Gvir's party. Opponents accused "Otzma Yehudit" of racism and undermining democratic foundations.

In a secret ballot, 19 committee members voted against disqualification, while 10 supported it, and one abstained. Representatives from the State Attorney's Office and the Attorney General's office acknowledged the "disturbing" evidence presented but deemed it insufficient for such a severe measure.

The hearing was marked by a significant controversy when former Health Minister Yael German, representing the complainants, compared Ben-Gvir's party ideology to the Nazi regime. This analogy provoked a strong reaction from right-wing politicians present. Ben-Gvir, currently the Minister of National Security, and Knesset member Tal Gottlieb interrupted German, accusing her of exploiting the Holocaust for political gain and disrespecting its victims.

Ben-Gvir described the attempt to disqualify his party as a "failed attempt to carry out my political assassination." He also criticized opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett, highlighting their alleged reluctance to disqualify Arab parties. Ben-Gvir vowed to continue his agenda of "arming the public, protecting traditional values, and fighting terrorists in prisons."

Ben-Gvir specifically stated, "Just as recently the intelligence services thwarted a real plot to physically assassinate me, today my political opponents tried to carry out my political assassination." He contrasted this with Lapid and Bennett's "cowardly" abstention on a demand to disqualify the Arab parties Ra'am and the "United List." The legality of the committee's verdict will be reviewed by Israel's Supreme Court.