Israel's Court Saved the Arab Parties — Now They May Decide the Election

Israel's High Court of Justice unanimously overturned the Central Elections Committee's bans on the Arab party lists Ra'am (United Arab List) and the Joint List on October 2, 2026 — and by 7 votes to 2 reinstated Hadash MK Ofer Cassif. Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew his candidacy after the justices signaled they would uphold his personal ban. With Israel's October 27 Knesset election polls showing the pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs tied and far short of the 61 seats needed to govern, the reinstated Arab lists could decide who forms the next government.

Music: Darkest Child by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) — CC BY 4.0.

Sources:
• Times of Israel — High Court lets Arab parties run in election, reversing Central Election Committee ban (Oct 2, 2026): https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/high-court-lets-arab-parties-run-in-election-reversing-central-election-committee-ban/
• Al Jazeera — Israel's Supreme Court overturns election panel ban on Arab parties (Oct 2, 2026): https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/2/israels-supreme-court-overturns-election-panel-ban-on-arab-parties
• Times of Israel — Netanyahu: Hamas will try to attack us to influence upcoming election (Oct 6, 2026): https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-hamas-will-try-to-attack-us-to-influence-upcoming-election/
• Jerusalem Post / Maariv poll — coalition and opposition tied 52-52, Arab lists hold 12 seats (Oct 9, 2026): https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-911139

Event date: October 2, 2026 (ruling); October 27, 2026 (election). Produced October 10, 2026.