Jerusalem, 22 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Attorney General and State Attorney said there is no legal basis to disqualify several parties and candidates from running in elections, including Religious Zionism, Zehut, The Democrats, Ra’am, Otzma Yehudit, the Joint List and Balad, as well as MK Ofer Cassif of the Joint List’s Hadash faction.
However, they said there is an evidentiary basis to consider disqualifying Sami Abu Shehadeh of the Joint List’s Balad faction over an article he published on Oct. 8, 2023, which they said appeared to express support for Hamas against Israel.
According to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s announcement, Abu Shehadeh’s response to the disqualification request did not convincingly refute that interpretation. The Central Elections Committee will consider the request.