It was a close vote, 16-to-15, but the Central Elections Committee on Wednesday ruled that Otzma Yehudit candidates Dr. Michael Ben-Ari and attorney Itamar Ben-Givir can run in the upcoming elections, as reported by YWN-Israel.

The committee however was less understanding regarding the Arab Balad party, a party whose members do not recognize the legitimacy of the State of Israel being the state of the Jewish people. The petition to disqualify the Balad party was filed by both Likud and Otzma Yehudit.

During the hearing before the committee members, Itamar Ben-Givir presented proof that members of the Balad party having the past expressed support for terrorist organizations and continue to deny the existence of the Jewish state.

The committee decided that the evidence proved the accusations against the party, and the decision was made disqualifying it from running in Knesset.

The response was, “the decision to disqualify the party is politically motivated, racist and populist, and the harms of political representation of Arab citizens, and it is clear to us that a panel of racist parties that do not want to see Arabs in the Knesset will act as it has rather than promoting full equality and rights of all citizens of the state”.

Members of the disqualified party are likely to appeal the decision of the committee to the High Court of Justice. In the past, the committee has disqualified Arab MK Hanin Zoabi from running in the election, and when she appealed to the High Court, the decision was overturned, and she was able to run. She recently announced her retirement from Knesset and is not seeking another term in the current election.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the decision of the committee, citing anyone who supports terrorism will not be in the Israeli Knesset.

The Hadash party, which is both Arab and Jewish, and the Ta’al party headed by MK Dr. Ahmed Tibi, have not been disqualified from the election race.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)