Supreme Court Hears Appeals on Disqualifying Candidates for Knesset Election

Israel's Supreme Court is holding hearings on Thursday to consider appeals against the Central Elections Committee's decisions to disqualify several candidates and lists from running in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. The individuals and lists facing potential disqualification include Sami Abu Shehadeh, head of the National Democratic Alliance, and Knesset Member Ofer Cassif, along with the Joint List and the United Arab List.

The hearings follow the Central Elections Committee's September 23, 2026, decision to ban Abu Shehadeh, Cassif, and the two lists from participating in the elections, with the final decision now resting with the Supreme Court.

Scheduled sessions include Sami Abu Shehadeh at 10:00 AM, Ofer Cassif at 11:30 AM, the Joint List at 2:00 PM, and the United Arab List at 3:30 PM. The court's rulings will determine the fate of these candidates and lists in the upcoming elections.

Far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on Thursday morning to participate in the hearing concerning Abu Shehadeh's disqualification, representing the Otzma Yehudit party alongside MK Tal Gottlieb. During the session, Ben-Gvir stated, "They want to kill us all," and when questioned by a judge, identified "terrorists and Sami Abu Shehadeh and those who support them" as the group he was referring to. The judges cautioned Ben-Gvir against making broad generalizations, particularly concerning potential implications for Arab citizens.

Justice Khaled Kabub reminded Ben-Gvir of Abu Shehadeh's prior condemnations of the October 7th attacks, countering Ben-Gvir's claims. Ben-Gvir questioned the judges about how they would face soldiers if Abu Shehadeh were to become a Knesset member. The session also saw a confrontation between the judges and Ben-Gvir's lawyer regarding changes to election law and disqualification criteria, touching upon the broader debate surrounding the Supreme Court's authority and judicial reform.

In a separate point, a female judge criticized the notion that speaking Arabic is a conspiracy, affirming it as a natural language. Following the conclusion of the appeal hearing for Sami Abu Shehadeh's disqualification, Abu Shehadeh and MK Ofer Cassif, accompanied by their legal representatives from Adalah Legal Center, are scheduled to make a statement to the media.