Israel moves to bar both main Arab lists from October election — Live Feedhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/israel-moves-to-bar-both-main-arab-lists-from-october-electionContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. Israel Election Committee bars Raam and Balad from October votehttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/israel-moves-to-bar-both-main-arab-lists-from-october-electionhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/israel-moves-to-bar-both-main-arab-lists-from-october-election#u84647Sat, 26 Sep 2026 03:56:08 +0000Israel's Central Elections Committee voted to disqualify the two primary Arab political lists and two individual candidates from the October 27 Knesset election. The panel barred the Raam party, Balad chair Sami Abu Shehadeh, and candidate Ofer Cassif. While the committee removed these Arab slates, it rejected bids to disqualify the Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionism, and Democrats parties. The affected parties have condemned the decision as being politically motivated.Why it mattersThe disqualification of major Arab parties affects the representation of Palestinian citizens of Israel in th