Democrats Party Faces Turmoil as Avi Dabush Also Disqualified from Meretz Reserved Slot

The internal crisis within the Israeli Democrats party, a union of Labor and Meretz, deepened on Tuesday evening when the party's internal election committee disqualified Avi Dabush, a prominent left-wing activist and resident of the Gaza border area, from running in the Meretz-reserved slot on the unified Knesset list. Dabush joins former MK Mossi Raz, who was previously disqualified from the same position.

Dabush expressed his disappointment, emphasizing his long-standing commitment to Meretz since 2014, including serving on its leadership and previously running for party chair. He criticized the committee's decision as a politically motivated maneuver disguised as a technical ruling, arguing it undermines the democratic process by bypassing the voters' will at the ballot box.

He vowed to demand a reconsideration of the decision and, if necessary, to appeal to relevant legal authorities. Dabush stressed the importance of internal party integrity and fairness, insisting that candidate selection should remain in the hands of party members.

Despite the setback, Dabush declared his determination to continue advocating for the residents of Israel's periphery, particularly those near Gaza, and to represent the social and value-driven left in the Knesset. He warned that no committee could negate the broad grassroots support he enjoys and pledged to prove that their politics serve the public interest rather than internal party agendas.