Israel High Court Overturns Election Ban on Arab Parties

The Supreme Court of Israel ruled Friday that Arab political parties may run in the upcoming national election, overturning a disqualification by the Central Elections Committee.

The court unanimously cleared both the conservative Islamic Ra'am party and the Joint List coalition to appear on the ballot. A nine-judge panel concluded that the committee's decision did not meet the legal threshold required to exclude political lists from parliamentary races. In a separate 7-2 vote, the court also allowed Joint List lawmaker Ofer Cassif to run.

The ruling reversed a decision made late last month by the Central Elections Committee. The political body, composed mostly of sitting Knesset lawmakers, had approved petitions submitted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and other right-wing factions. Those petitions alleged that the Arab parties supported armed struggle against Israel, claims the parties strongly denied.

The court has repeatedly rejected attempts by lawmakers to bar Arab politicians from running in past national elections. While the justices cleared the party lists, Balad party leader Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew his candidacy late Thursday. Justices had advised him during hearings that a majority supported upholding his individual disqualification.

Arab citizens represent roughly 20% of Israel's population of 10 million. Current opinion polls indicate that Arab factions could win between 10 and 14 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.

Neither the bloc supporting Netanyahu nor the main opposition alliance currently polls near the 61-seat threshold needed for a governing majority. That divide leaves Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, in a position to potentially help determine a coalition after the vote. Ra'am previously joined a coalition led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid in 2021.

The ruling clears the way for both alliances to resume their campaigns ahead of voting on Oct. 27.