Opposition MK seeks to disqualify Ofer Cassif's candidacy

Yisrael Beiteinu faction chair MK Oded Forer submitted a request to the Central Elections Committee to disqualify MK Ofer Cassif's candidacy for the 26th Knesset, under Section 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset. The request is based on Cassif's ongoing support for armed struggle against Israel, his statements against IDF soldiers, his signing of a petition supporting South Africa's case at the Hague, and his calls for refusal of orders. Forer claims Cassif has become more extreme since 2019.

Yisrael Beiteinu faction chair MK Oded Forer submitted today (Monday) a formal request to the Central Elections Committee to disqualify MK Ofer Cassif from running for the 26th Knesset. The request is submitted under Section 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset, and focuses on Cassif's ongoing support for armed struggle against the State of Israel. The request details statements and actions, including his statement that "there is no such thing as terrorism against soldiers," defining those who harm IDF soldiers as "guerrilla fighters" and "freedom fighters," his signing of a petition supporting South Africa's case against Israel at the Hague, his call for soldiers to refuse orders, and his refusal to define Hamas as a terrorist organization. Also noted were four sanctions by the Ethics Committee of the 25th Knesset, totaling ten months of suspension, a call to repeal the Law of Return, and comparisons of Israel to Nazi Germany. Forer stated: "In 2019, the court said the evidence was insufficient, and since then Cassif has not changed his ways – he has only become more extreme. Democracy does not have to allow someone who supports a struggle against the state to use the Knesset as a platform for activity against it."