Israel Bans Arab Parties from October 27 Election: Supreme Court Set to Review
Key Points
- Israel's Central Elections Committee voted 18-5 on September 26, 2026, to disqualify the Joint List and Ra'am, two Arab-majority political alliances.
- The Joint List comprises Hadash, Ta'al, and Balad; Ra'am runs separately and is led by Mansour Abbas.
- Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara opposed disqualification of the two lists and candidate Ofer Cassif, but took a different position on Sami Abu Shehadeh.
The committee votes are not final. The Supreme Court is expected to review the decisions next week and has overturned previous attempts to exclude Arab parties and candidates, suggesting the court's decision could reverse the committee's action. The committee's chair is a Supreme Court justice, but its voting members represent parties in the outgoing Knesset, meaning politicians vote on whether rival parties can contest the election.
The Joint List comprises three separate parties contesting as a single list to avoid splitting votes. Hadash is a left-wing party with Jewish and Arab members; Ta'al campaigns primarily for the rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel; and Balad calls for a state with equal rights for all citizens. This electoral tactic allows smaller parties to combine votes and reduce the risk of falling below the 3.25 percent threshold needed to enter the Knesset's 120 seats. The Hadash-Ta'al alliance currently holds five Knesset seats, with three belonging to Hadash politicians and two to Ta'al. Balad holds no current seats.
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Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, runs separately and has been more willing to negotiate with other parties over funding and services for Arab communities. It joined the broad coalition governing Israel from 2021 to 2022, a position the Joint List did not take. Ra'am currently holds five Knesset seats.
The disqualification petitions were filed by right-wing parties Likud and Otzma Yehudit, which accused the Arab-majority lists and candidates of denying Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state, supporting armed struggle against Israel, or inciting racism. The committee's decision has prompted accusations of double standards, as Palestinian-led parties face exclusion while far-right ministers on the ballot have faced international sanctions.
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The Supreme Court review scheduled for next week will determine whether these exclusions stand or are reversed.
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court is likely to review the Central Elections Committee's decision within days before the October 27 election. Historically, Israel's Supreme Court has overturned previous attempts to exclude Arab parties and candidates, suggesting potential reversal. The court's final decision will determine whether Palestinian citizens of Israel can vote for their traditional representatives or face the election without their principal political vehicles on the ballot.
Sources: Al Jazeera and other international news outlets.
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