Elections Committee ruled: The Democrats will also be able to run for the Knesset

The Central Elections Committee rejected Otzma Yehudit's request to disqualify the Democrats list headed by Yair Golan from the elections for the 26th Knesset. The request was based on claims of denying Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state and incitement to racism. In the vote, two committee members supported disqualification and 14 opposed, with no abstentions. This concluded the marathon of discussions on requests to disqualify lists.

The Central Elections Committee rejected today (Thursday) Otzma Yehudit's request to disqualify the Democrats list headed by Yair Golan from running in the elections for the 26th Knesset. The vote ended with a decisive result: two committee members supported disqualification, 14 opposed, with no abstentions. Otzma Yehudit based its request on two grounds: denying Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state and incitement to racism. The request pointed to statements by Golan, in which he called the settlers in Homesh "subhuman" and the Haredi public "a parasitic population." Also included in the request were statements by Golan from the period of the protest against the judicial reform, including a call for "civil disobedience," as well as claims regarding calls for non-reporting for reserve duty. Additionally, his declaration that he would act to close Channel 14 was cited, along with remarks by candidate Tomer Avital about a plan to "crush Channel 14 in the next term." The discussion took place a day after the Elections Committee disqualified Ra'am and the Joint List. Golan criticized the disqualification of Ra'am and said the Democrats would oppose it. Earlier today, the request to disqualify Otzma Yehudit was also rejected, thus approving Itamar Ben Gvir's list. This concluded the disqualification discussions in the committee, and some decisions may be appealed to the Supreme Court.