Story perspectives

Elections Committee Bars Joint List, Ra’am From Oct. 27

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 6:21 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Central Elections Committee voted to bar the Joint List slate and Ra’am party from the Oct 27 election.
Committee disqualified Ra’am by an 18-5 vote after petitions from Likud, Otzma Yehudit and Choose Life Forum.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Mira opposed both disqualifications, saying petitions lacked sufficient evidence.
Supreme Court approval is required; its high threshold makes overturning the decisions likely.

History

Historical Context

In 2009, Israel’s Central Elections Committee voted 15-5 to bar the Balad and United Arab List parties, a decision later overturned by the Supreme Court. Attorney General Mazuz argued the parties threatened state security, yet the court cited 78 % of petition evidence as insufficient. Today, the committee’s 18-5 vote to disqualify the Joint List and Ra’am mirrors the 2009 attempt, with Likud and Otzma Yehudit again filing petitions. Repeated bans risk eroding Arab representation, prompting legal battles that could reshape Israel’s electoral framework and minority rights.

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Story summary

Central Elections Committee voted to bar the Joint List slate and Ra’am party from the Oct 27 election.
Committee disqualified Ra’am by an 18-5 vote after petitions from Likud, Otzma Yehudit and Choose Life Forum.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Mira opposed both disqualifications, saying petitions lacked sufficient evidence.
Supreme Court approval is required; its high threshold makes overturning the decisions likely.

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