Likud on Monday submitted formal requests to disqualify the Joint List and Ra'am from the upcoming Knesset elections, according to Channel 14 political correspondent Mati Tuchfeld. The party said the Arab factions are unwilling to recognize Hamas as a terror organization and are the natural partners of opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Golan, and Avigdor Lieberman in forming a left-wing government.
Likud on Monday submitted formal requests to the Central Elections Committee to disqualify the Joint List and Ra'am from the upcoming Knesset elections, moving from threat to action a day after the party announced its intention. The filing was reported by Channel 14 political correspondent Mati Tuchfeld, citing party sources. Likud said the Arab factions are unwilling to recognize Hamas as a terror organization and are the natural partners of opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Golan, and Avigdor Lieberman in forming a left-wing government.
The submission follows a rapid sequence of announcements Sunday evening. At 20:47 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Likud would file a request to disqualify the Joint List. By 21:11, Likud legal advisor Ilan Bombach confirmed the petition would be filed the next day, and the party issued a statement expanding the move to include Ra'am, calling the Arab parties "terror supporters." "There is no room in the Knesset for those who harm IDF soldiers and cannot call Hamas and Hezbollah terror organizations," the party said.
Corroboration strengthened over the past day: the Sunday reports moved from a general announcement to an on-record confirmation by Bombach and a formal party statement. Monday's filing, however, is based on Tuchfeld's party sources; Likud has not issued an official public statement confirming the submission. The Central Elections Committee is expected to deliberate on the requests, which could set a precedent for disqualifying Arab factions.
The move escalates the pre-election political battle and is the latest in a series of aggressive Likud maneuvers. As The Zioneer reported on August 11, Netanyahu is also seeking to reshape Likud's own slate, pushing to reserve top-10 slots for Gideon Sa'ar and Moshe Kahlon.
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