Court ruling10/2/2026

Supreme Court Allows Ra'am, the Joint List, and Cassif to Run in the Elections

The Supreme Court of Israel overturned the decisions of the Central Elections Committee and allowed Ra'am, the Joint List, and Member of Knesset Ofer Cassif to participate in the elections for the 26th Knesset. The decision regarding the two lists was unanimous, while the decision regarding Cassif was reached by a majority of seven judges to two.

Key facts

•Court: Supreme Court of Israel
•Publication date: October 2, 2026
•Election: 26th Knesset
•Ra'am and the Joint List: unanimously allowed to run
•Ofer Cassif: allowed to run by a 7–2 majority
•The case number is not specified in the source

What the Central Elections Committee Decided

The Central Elections Committee had previously disqualified Ra'am, the Joint List, and Ofer Cassif. In the cases of the lists and Cassif, the grounds examined concerned negating Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state and supporting the armed struggle of an enemy state or a terrorist organization. Incitement to racism was also cited in Ra'am's case.

Why the Court Allowed the Two Lists to Run

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the materials submitted to the committee against Ra'am and the Joint List did not meet the stringent standards established in case law for disqualifying a candidate list. The Court found that the alleged grounds had not been proven and overturned the committee's decisions. Both lists will be able to participate in the elections for the 26th Knesset.

The Decision Regarding Ofer Cassif

Justices Yitzhak Amit, Daphne Barak-Erez, Yael Wilner, Ofer Grosskopf, Gila Canfy-Steinitz, Khaled Kabub, and Yechiel Kasher allowed Cassif to participate in the elections. The majority justices emphasized that all the justices reject his outrageous statements and actions, but that the evidence does not accumulate into the “critical mass” required for disqualification. Justices Alex Stein and David Mintz remained in the minority: in their view, Cassif's statements and activities, including previous declarations, prove support for armed struggle against Israel.

A Separate Issue Regarding the Balad Chairman

The Supreme Court also considered the disqualification of Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh. After the President of the Supreme Court suggested that he consider withdrawing his candidacy, Abu Shehadeh informed the Court and the Central Elections Committee that he was withdrawing from the race. Accordingly, the Court's decision described here permitting participation applies to Ra'am, the Joint List, and Ofer Cassif.

What this means for you

Voters will be able to vote for Ra'am and the Joint List, and Ofer Cassif will be able to run. The decision shows that harsh or outrageous statements alone are insufficient: preventing participation in elections requires evidence that meets the stringent standards established in case law.

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