High-profile case9/23/2026

Central Elections Committee Disqualifies Ra’am, the Joint List, Abu Shehadeh and Cassif

The Central Elections Committee decided to bar the Ra’am party and the Joint List, Balad Chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh, and Knesset member Ofer Cassif from running in the elections for the 26th Knesset. These decisions are not yet final: the Supreme Court of Israel must review them.

Key facts

•Body: Israel’s Central Elections Committee
•Publication and update date: September 23, 2026
•Election: 26th Knesset
•Abu Shehadeh: 31–4 and 30–4 on the two grounds
•Ra’am: 18 in favor, 5 against, 1 abstention
•Ofer Cassif: 19 in favor, 5 against, 2 abstentions

Whom the Committee Disqualified

The decisions concern Ra’am; the Joint List, comprising Hadash, Ta’al and Ra’am; Balad Chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh; and Hadash Knesset member Ofer Cassif. The Otzma Yehudit party filed the petitions against Abu Shehadeh and Ra’am; Likud and the Choosing Life Forum also acted against Ra’am. Likud filed the petitions to disqualify the Joint List and Cassif.

Grounds for the Decisions

Abu Shehadeh was disqualified on two grounds: negating the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, and supporting an armed struggle by an enemy state or terrorist organization against Israel. The discussion focused on an article he published on October 8, 2023; Abu Shehadeh expressed regret and said that when he wrote it, he did not know the extent of the atrocities committed. On the ground of supporting an armed struggle, 31 committee members voted in favor of disqualification and four opposed it; on the other ground, 30 voted in favor and four against.

Ra’am, Cassif and the Joint List

Ra’am was disqualified on the grounds of negating the state’s Jewish and democratic character, supporting an armed struggle, and incitement to racism: 18 voted in favor, five against, and one committee member abstained. The arguments included alleged ties between the party and organizations that, according to the petitioners, are linked to terrorist entities. Nineteen committee members voted to disqualify Cassif, five opposed, and two abstained; during the discussion, his public support for the proceedings against Israel at the court in The Hague was mentioned. The source does not state the exact voting results regarding the Joint List.

The Unusual Position of the Central Elections Committee Chairman

Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg supported disqualifying Abu Shehadeh on the ground of supporting an armed struggle against Israel. According to the source, this is the first time in decades that the committee chairman did not abstain in a vote of this kind. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara believed that grounds existed to disqualify Abu Shehadeh, whereas the decision regarding Ra’am was made, according to a statement by party chairman Mansour Abbas, contrary to her position.

The Supreme Court Has the Final Say

All decisions of the Central Elections Committee must be submitted for approval by the Supreme Court of Israel. The source notes that in previous election cycles, the court generally rejected attempts to disqualify Arab parties and their candidates. However, the likelihood that Abu Shehadeh’s disqualification would be approved was assessed as higher than that of the others concerned.

What this means for you

The composition of the ballots and the ability of the specified parties and candidates to participate in the election have not yet been finally determined. For voters, the Central Elections Committee’s decision will have practical significance only after the Supreme Court hearing, which may uphold or overturn the disqualifications.

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Case analysis based on court rulings