Elections 2003: Threats to Arab Political Participation

On 31 December 2002, the Israeli Central Elections Committee, comprised of 41 representatives of political parties in the outgoing Knesset, voted to disqualify the National Democratic Assembly, a Palestinian political party, as well as MK Azmi Bishara from 2003 Knesset elections. The disqualifications were on the basis that the NDA and MK Bishara "deny the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state," and "support an armed struggle of an enemy state or terrorist organization against the State of Israel."

Adalah petitioned the Supreme Court on behalf of the NDA and MK Bishara against their disqualifications. On 9 January 2003, in a 7 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court cancelled the CEC's decision, reinstating both the NDA and MK Bishara for candidacy in the elections. 

List of Members of the 16th Knesset Central Elections Committee

Press Releases

Supreme Court Approves the Participation of NDA and MKs Azmi Bishara and Ahmad Tibi in the Upcoming Israeli Elections - 9 January 2003

Supreme Court Hearings Today on Adalah’s Appeal Against NDA Disqualification - 7 January 2003

Supreme Court Hearings Today on Adalah’s Concluding Arguments Against Disqualification of MK Ahmad Tibi - 7 January 2003

CEC Disqualifies the NDA List and MKs Azmi Bishara and Ahmad Tibi – Adalah to Represent at Supreme Court Hearings on 7 January 2003 - 2 January 2003

Attorney General, Supported by GSS, Seeks Disqualification of NDA Party from Israeli Elections; Right-Wing MKs Ask to Ban Three Arab MKs and Three Political Parties; Adalah to Represent All Arab MKs and Political Parties - 21 December 2002

Adalah's Reply Briefs

Summary - 3 January 2003 (English)

Reply to motion for disqualification of MK Azmi Bishara and the NDA Party (Hebrew)

Reply to motion for disqualification of MK Ahmad Tibi (Hebrew)

Reply to motion for disqualification of the Hadash-Ta'al Party (Hebrew)

Reply to motion for disqualification of the MK Abd el-Malik Dehamshe and the UAL Party (Hebrew)

Profiles of MKs and their Parties