Israeli Election Committee Approves 38 Lists for Knesset Vote

Israel's Central Elections Committee has approved 38 lists to run in the upcoming Knesset elections, scheduled for October 27. The decision was made during a session chaired by Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, approximately one month before the vote.

However, the approval for two lists, the United Arab List and the Joint List, remains conditional pending a Supreme Court decision. The committee had previously decided to ban these two lists from participating, referring the matter to the Supreme Court for a final ruling. The ban on the Joint List also included two candidates: Knesset member Ofer Cassif and Sami Abu Shehadeh, head of the Tajam party.

Among the approved lists are "Together" led by Naftali Bennett, running under the letters "רצ" (Ratz), Gadi Eisenkot's "Derech" party, "Israel First" led by Sharan Haskel, "Reserve Soldiers and Economy" headed by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha, and "The Democrats" led by Yair Golan.

Established parties largely retained their familiar electoral letters. The Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, will use "מחל" (Mahal), Shas will use "שס" (Shas), United Torah Judaism will use "ג" (Gimel), and Yisrael Beiteinu, led by Avigdor Lieberman, will use "ל" (Lamed). Benny Gantz's National Unity party will run under "כן" (Ken).

Other parties received their designated letters, including Otzma Yehudit led by Itamar Ben-Gvir with "ב" (Bet), and the Religious Zionism list led by Bezalel Smotrich, along with the Identity list led by Moshe Feiglin, running under "ט" (Tet).

Newer lists approved include "Am Israel" led by Ofer Winter, "Women's Voice," "Security - Social Security" led by Simion Grafman, "Ha'Bohor" led by Rabbi Shlomo Alboim, and "Noam for Israel" led by Avi Maoz.

In a separate decision, the committee rejected the "Eden Garden" list's request to use the letters "יה" (Yah) on the ballot, citing potential offense to public sentiment, and instead approved their second choice, the letter "ה" (Heh).

The participation of the United Arab List and the Joint List is still contingent on the Supreme Court's ruling on appeals against the committee's decision.