Israeli election committee bans Arab parties from standing in next month's vote

Israel’s Central Elections Committee voted on Wednesday to ban the main Arab parties and two candidates from participating in the October 27 parliamentary election. 

The vote came after the right-wing parties of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir filed petitions accusing the parties and candidates of denying Israel’s existence as a Jewish state. 

The decision will be reviewed by the Supreme Court before it can be implemented.