Israel's Election Committee Clears Far-Right Leaders for Knesset Vote

Israel's Central Elections Committee on September 24 rejected appeals to disqualify three parties from running in the upcoming Knesset elections. The parties cleared are Otzma Yehudit, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir; the Religious Zionism-Zehut list, headed by Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin; and the Democrats, led by Yair Golan. The "Zulat" institute filed the initial complaints against Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism, with the Democrats joining the complaint against Ben-Gvir's party. Applicants argued that the parties' leaders' statements and political activities incited racism and violated the state's democratic principles.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara opposed the disqualification of all three parties. While she described the materials concerning Otzma Yehudit as "deeply troubling" and noted they "closely approach the line prohibited by Basic Law," she concluded there was insufficient evidence for a ban. Baharav-Miara also stated that Ben-Gvir's actions as National Security Minister are under separate legal review concerning his fitness for office, citing "serious damage to the principle of police independence."

The vote to disqualify Otzma Yehudit was 10 in favor and 19 against, with one abstention. The committee meeting was reportedly tense, with Ben-Gvir and MK Tali Gottlieb reportedly interrupting proceedings, leading to the acting director-general of the committee calling for them to stop and leave. Ben-Gvir and Gottlieb claimed the disqualification attempt was politically motivated.

MK Gilad Kariv countered that Ben-Gvir is a "racist Kahaneist" who has been convicted of inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organization, arguing that a democracy cannot empower those who seek to undermine it. The appeal against the Religious Zionism-Zeut list received only three votes in favor and 21 against. Simcha Rothman, representing the party, agreed with the Attorney General, stating that the disqualification procedure should not be devalued.

Otzma Yehudit had also requested the disqualification of the Democrats, accusing them of inciting racism. Likud, Shas, and Religious Zionism abstained from voting on this, reportedly believing there were no grounds for disqualifying the Democrats and that doing so could harm their own appeals against other parties. The committee has been reviewing disqualification appeals for two consecutive days. On September 23, it disqualified Sami Abu Shehadeh, head of the Arab party Balad, and MK Ofer Cassif (Hadash), along with the Arab parties United List and Ra'am. These decisions are subject to appeal, with Ynet expecting the Supreme Court to review the disqualifications of Ra'am, United List, and Cassif. The grounds for Abu Shehadeh's disqualification are considered more serious.