central elections committee

MK Ahmad Tibi reacts during a discussion and a vote on The vote on the "Flag Bill" in the Knesset, Jerusalem, June 1, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

The Israeli right is planning to ban Palestinian parties. Here’s how

If the Netanyahu government secures a forever majority, it will bolster the argument that an apartheid regime reigns between the river and the sea.

By Sawsan Zaher March 23, 2023

Heba Yazbak of the Balad party speaks in the Israeli parliament on May 13, 2019, during a Plenary Hall session. (Noam Revkin Fenton / Flash90)

Every Israeli election needs a Palestinian woman as a villain

Attempts to bar Balad MK Heba Yazbak from the election shows how Palestinian women are constantly demonized as embodiments of Israeli fears.

By Orly Noy January 21, 2020

Israeli citizens cast their ballots at a voting station in Jerusalem, during the Knesset elections on April 9, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

Why Israelis are going to the polls for a second time this year

Five things you should know about the second Israeli national elections in six months. By +972 Magazine Staff How do Israeli elections work? Israel is a multi-party system, which means several parties will be competing for citizens’ votes come Election Day. There are 5.8 million Israeli citizens who are eligible to vote this time. Of the…

By +972 Magazine September 16, 2019

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An Arab woman casts her vote at a polling station in the city of Lyd on October 22, 2013. (Yossi Zeliger/Flash90)

Israeli elections c’tee hasn’t taken any steps to stop Arab voter intimidation

Four months after the ruling Likud party led a voter intimidation campaign against Palestinian voters, the government body responsible for ensuring free and fair elections says it hasn’t made any changes to its process. With just a few weeks before Israeli citizens head back to the polls for the second time this year, the government body responsible for…

By Henriette Chacar August 7, 2019

Balad head MK Jamal Zahalka (left) and Ta'al head MK Ahmad Tibi, February 11, 2014. (Photo by Activestills.org)

The domino effect of persecuting Arab politicians

The government’s latest attempts to oust Balad from the Knesset are part of an intensifying campaign against Arab political movements, regardless of their different stripes. Three months ago, when the Israeli government outlawed the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, Palestinian citizens of Israel feared that they were witnessing the beginning of an intensified campaign…

By Amjad Iraqi February 14, 2016

MK Haneen Zoabi addresses the Central Elections Committee during a hearing over her disqualification from Knesset elections, February 12, 2015. (Screenshot)

It’s time to disqualify Israel’s Central Elections Committee

In the run-up to every general election since 2003, Arab parties and candidates have been forced to appear in front of this committee to prove that they deserve to participate in Knesset elections. The only thing worse than the process itself is the racist atmosphere in the meetings. By Salah Mohsen The Central Elections Committee…

By +972 Magazine February 16, 2015

WATCH: Arab party’s elections ad banned for ‘mocking national anthem’

The televised spots sponsored by Israel’s different political parties will begin airing tonight (Tuesday). Yesterday, the Central Election Committee banned Balad’s clip (below) for “mocking the national anthem.” The clip shows right-wing legislators (Avigdor Lieberman, Michael-Ben Ari, Danny Danon and Aryeh Eldad) singing the Israeli anthem to an Arabic tune. Recently, the Central Election Committee, the…

By Noam Sheizaf January 8, 2013

MK Haneen Zoabi (photo: Oren Ziv/activestills.org)

Hanin Zoabi and Israel’s point of no return

Some more thoughts of the “death of democracy” scenario that might take place in the next elections Susan Hattis Rolef has a piece in the Jerusalem Post dealing with the same issue I wrote about yesterday: the expected ban on MK Hanin Zoabi – and perhaps Balad and Raam-Taal parties as well – from participating…

By Noam Sheizaf January 2, 2012

2012: The year democracy ends

A not-so-crazy speculation for the new year: A date for new elections will be set; at least one major Arab party won’t be allowed to participate in them, resulting in a call for boycott in the Palestinian public and the Jewish left. With the Arabs out of the Knesset, the right will enjoy a much…

By Noam Sheizaf January 1, 2012