By Pesach Benson • September 23, 2026
Jerusalem, 23 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Central Elections Committee on Wednesday barred MK Ofer Cassif of the Arab Joint List from running in the upcoming election for the 26th Knesset, sending the decision to the High Court of Justice for final consideration.
The committee voted 19-5 to Disqualify Cassif, with two members abstaining, following a petition submitted by Likud alleging that the Hadash faction lawmaker supports terrorist activity and opposes Israel as a Jewish state.
Cassif, who is No. 6 on the Joint List slate and its only Jewish candidate, rejected the allegations.
“Presenting my opposition to the government’s policy and the actions of its agents as support for the enemy, a breach of loyalty, and harm to the state is a blatant distortion of reality and a complete distortion of the spirit of democracy,” he said.
“Opposition to crimes committed in the name of the state does not go against its interests and does not strengthen its enemies,” Cassif added.
The petition invoked a provision of Basic Law barring candidates who deny Israel’s existence as a Jewish and democratic state. Cassif can appeal the committee’s decision, with the matter ultimately to be decided by the High Court.
The committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg, is also hearing requests Wednesday to bar other parties and candidates from the election.
The cases include petitions against the Ra’am, Otzma Yehudit, Democrats, Religious Zionist, Zehut, Joint List and Balad parties, as well as Balad faction chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh.
“Disqualifying a candidate or list deprives the entire public of the opportunity to give them their vote,” Solberg said.
