Israel

Nine-Justice Supreme Court Panel to Hear Abu Shehadeh and Cassif Election Bans October 1

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Courtroom-sketch editorial illustration of an archival 2006 elevated view of the pale limestone Supreme Court of Israel building in Jerusalem, with its pyramid-topped cone, arched stone bridge and cypress rows above terraced gardens and the Knesset building in the hazy background; institutional context for the court, not the October 1, 2026 hearing on the election bans or anyone involved, rendered in warm ochre and slate-blue pastel strokes.

Israel's Supreme Court will hear the Central Elections Committee's decisions barring Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh, MK Ofer Cassif and the Joint List from the October 27 Knesset election on October 1, before nine justices led by President Yitzhak Amit. The Abu Shehadeh case opens at 11:30, followed by the Cassif and Joint List case. The committee voted 30 to 4 on September 23 to bar Abu Shehadeh for supporting armed struggle by a terror organization, citing his October 8, 2023 article describing the October 7 massacre as a historic event of military, political and strategic importance. Otzma Yehudit, Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and the Attorney General were summoned to that hearing.

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