Israel’s election panel bars Joint List and Ra’am from October vote

Israel’s Central Elections Committee voted to disqualify the Joint List (Hadash, Balad, Ta’al) and Ra’am from the 27 October Knesset election, and to bar Hadash’s Ofer Cassif and Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh. The Supreme Court will review next week. Critics cite double standards: Palestinian-led lists face exclusion while politicians under ICC warrants or sanctions remain eligible; Palestinian citizens of Israel are about one-fifth of the population.