Adalah responds to Israeli election disqualification motions filed by right-wing groups against two Arab parties
Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel filed responses to motions yesterday, 28 September 2022, to disqualify two Arab parties – The National Democratic Assembly (Balad/Tajammu'), led by MK Dr. Sami Abu Shehadeh and the United Arab List (Ra'am), led by Dr. Mansour Abbas – from running in the upcoming national parliamentary elections slated to be held on 1 November.
The Central Elections Committee (CEC) will hold hearings and decide on the motions on Thursday, 29 October 2022, at 14:00 pm at its Knesset headquarters.
The responses were filed with the CEC of behalf of the two Arab parties by Adalah General Director Hassan Jabareen and Adalah Attorney Adi Mansour, with the assistance of Adalah legal apprentice Ola Taha.
- CLICK HERE to read the responses to motions to disqualify Balad/Tajammu’
- To read the responses to motions to disqualify Ra’am: Choosing Life Forum; Ad Kan
- CLICK HERE for more information on the disqualification process and the upcoming elections
Two right-wing Israeli organizations – Choosing Life Forum - Bereaved Families Against Terrorists and Ad Kan – filed two disqualification motions against Ra’am, pursuant to Section 7A of the Basic Law: The Knesset.
In response to these motions, Adalah argued that the groups’ requests are unfounded and lack any legal grounds, and called on the CEC to reject the disqualification motions outright.
The requests seeking to disqualify Ra'am from running in the elections to the 25th Knesset rely primarily on a report compiled by the organizations, according to which Ra’am “supports terrorist entities through other organizations”. These requests are based on documents spanning over hundreds of pages that outline a connection between members of the party and entities and associations that operate legally and legitimately in Israel. In these requests, the applicants also pointed to statements made by members of the party protesting Israel’s policy of administrative detentions, other political statements, and meetings with various individuals.
In Ra’am’s written response, along with denying all the falsified evidence that was presented to the committee, the party argued that these are conspiratorial documents that have nothing to do with the “support of an armed struggle of terrorist organizations”, which is delineated as grounds for disqualification according to Article 7A of the Basic Law: The Knesset.
The disqualification motion by Anachnu against Balad/Tajammu’ relies on evidence that had been previously reviewed by the Israeli Supreme Court which held that it does not deny the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. The applicant also attached several statements, some falsified, including a radio interview in which the chairman of the list, Sami Abu Shehadeh, expressed his support for changing the flag and anthem and canceling the Jewish right of return.
In response, Adalah emphasized that the evidence submitted to the CEC against Balad/Tajammu’ does not meet the criteria for disqualification as stipulated in Israel’s Basic Law: The Knesset.
- CLICK HERE to read the disqualification request filed by the Choosing Life Forum against Ra’am [Hebrew]
- CLICK HERE to read the disqualification request filed by Ad Kan [Hebrew]
- CLICK HERE to read the disqualification request filed by Anachnu against Balad [Hebrew]
