Ben-Gvir Clashes With Feiglin Over Election Disqualification Rules

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, publicly criticized Moshe Feiglin on Saturday night regarding Feiglin's stance against disqualifying candidates and parties from running in the Knesset elections. Ben-Gvir stated that Feiglin is mistaken and misleading, asserting that anyone supporting the October 7th attacks, like Sami Abu Shehadeh, must be disqualified. He further argued that those who support the murder of soldiers, such as the Ra'am party and Abu Shehadeh, should be expelled from the Knesset.

These remarks followed a decision by the Central Elections Committee to disqualify Sami Abu Shehadeh, Ofer Cassif, Ra'am, and the Joint List. However, requests to disqualify Otzma Yehudit, HaDemocratim, and the Religious Zionism-Identity list were rejected. The disqualification decisions are subject to further legal proceedings.

Ben-Gvir's attack was prompted by comments Feiglin made on Friday after the committee rejected the bid to disqualify the Religious Zionism-Identity list, which Feiglin is running on with Bezalel Smotrich. Feiglin argued that disqualifying candidates and lists contradicts fundamental democratic principles. He believes that even those suspected of incitement or sedition should be punished under the law but should not be barred from running in elections.

Feiglin responded directly to Ben-Gvir, stating that Ben-Gvir misses the main point and falls into the trap of the very system he claims to fight. Feiglin clarified that individuals inciting, betraying, or supporting the enemy during wartime should face criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and, after serving their sentence, have their citizenship revoked and be deported. However, he stressed that the democratic right to elect and be elected should not be used as a punishment in a democratic state.

Feiglin warned that disqualifying candidates grants excessive power to the judicial system, allowing judges to effectively decide who represents the people instead of the people themselves. He cautioned that such mechanisms, used today against opponents, could eventually be turned against the right-wing and their voters, as has happened in the past.