Arab party accused by Benjamin of supporting terrorism disqualified from Israel's election

Israel's election monitor disqualified an Arab party described by Prime Minister Benjamin as supporting terrorism from a national election in April while approving far-right Jewish candidates who may be key to his hope of winning a fifth term. The Central Elections Committee voted 17-10 to bar the Arab party, Balad, from the election in accordance with a motion filed by Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party.

Likud alleged that Balad "championed the elimination of Israel as a Jewish state". The committee also struck down motions by a liberal Jewish movement and centre-left politicians against Michael Ben-Ari and Itamar Ben-Gvir, adherents of late anti-Arab rabbi Meir Kahane. The motions branded their Jewish Power party as racist.

(With inputs from agencies.)