"Denial of the Jewish State": Likud files official request to disqualify Ra'am

Likud has submitted an official request to the Central Elections Committee to disqualify Ra'am from running in the 26th Knesset elections, claiming the party denies Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state and supports the armed struggle of a terrorist organization. The request is based on Article 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset and details ties between Ra'am, the Islamic Movement, and the "Siu'a 48" association. This move joins a similar request filed by Otzma Yehudit.

Likud submitted today (Monday) to the Central Elections Committee an official request to disqualify Ra'am from running in the 26th Knesset elections. The request is based on Article 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset, and Likud claims that the party's activities indicate two grounds for disqualification: denying Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state, and supporting the armed struggle of a terrorist organization against the state. The request devotes extensive space to the connection between Ra'am and the Islamic Movement, from which the party emerged. Likud presents a series of publications and statements that they say show that the ideological perception of the Islamic Movement remains part of Ra'am's operational basis. Another section deals with the "Siu'a 48" association and the ties that Likud claims existed between it and elements identified with Hamas. It is further argued that one should not be satisfied with moderate public statements by Ra'am leaders, and that messages directed at other audiences should also be examined. The move comes days after Otzma Yehudit and Minister Itamar Ben Gvir filed a separate request to disqualify Ra'am and Mansour Abbas.