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Arab lawmaker, far-rightist banned from running Israel's parliamentary election

Xinhua, February 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Israeli Central Elections Committee decided on Thursday to ban an Arab lawmaker and a far right-wing activist from running in the upcoming elections due to their controversial public remarks.

In a vote of 27 yeas against six nays, the Arab lawmaker, Hanin Zoabi, was banned from running in the March 17 elections.

She is known for her controversial statements in the past about the Palestinian resistance against Israel, which is construed as supporting their legal armed struggle and has been used by right-wing lawmakers in her dismissal.

"I strongly went against the killing of civilians and racist laws," Zoabi said during the committee's session, which was aired at the parliament TV Channel, adding that she is "determined to continue her political struggle" against the Israeli occupation and the siege over the Gaza Strip.

Right wing politicians, on their part, accused her of incitement against Israel, going so far as to tell Zoabi that she has "our soldiers' blood on your hands," according to the Ynet news website.

Not only the right-wing parties, such as the Likud, the Jewish Home, Israel Beytenu and the ultra-orthodox Shas party, but also center-left parties like Yesh Atid and the Zionist Camp (the joint Labor-Hatnua list) supported her disqualification.

Pundits believe that the move of the Zionist camp aimed at securing votes from the center-oriented voters who find Zoabi's statement hard to stomach.

It's not the first time that the committee has tried to force Zoabi out of elections. Back in the 2013 she was banned for the same reason, but the Supreme Court then overruled the committee's decision. The court is expected to do it again this time, as it automatically discusses such disqualifications without any need of appeals.

Besides Zoabi, the committee also voted in favor of banning the candidacy of Baruch Marzel, a far right-wing activist of the outlawed, racist Kach movement, over his statements and acts against Arabs.

Marzel joined lawmaker Eli Yishai of Shas party in establishing the Yachad (Together) party. Center-left politicians have filed petitions against his candidacy with the Yachad.

In 2002, Israel amended the basic law overseeing the activity of the parliament, enabling disqualification of candidates on the basis of denying Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state, or for racist incitement. Endit