Israel’s Central Elections Committee on Thursday rejected petitions seeking to disqualify several far-right parties, including Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionism, and Zehut, from participating in the upcoming Knesset election scheduled for October 27. The petitions argued that these parties undermine democracy and incite racism. The committee also approved a joint list between Zehut, led by former Likud MK Moshe Feiglin, and the Religious Zionism party.

The vote on Otzma Yehudit—a party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir—was narrowly decided: 11 members opposed disqualification, 10 supported it, and one abstained. Religious Zionism, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, easily avoided disqualification with a 21-3 vote. The committee also dismissed a petition filed by Otzma Yehudit attempting to bar the center-left Democrats party, which accused Democrats of racism and denying Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had previously stated there was no legal basis to disqualify these parties. The committee’s composition reflects the current Knesset makeup, granting the governing coalition a majority on the panel. Its decisions are subject to appeal before the Supreme Court, which traditionally applies a higher standard when considering such cases. An expanded Supreme Court panel is scheduled to hear appeals next week.

Opponents of Otzma Yehudit contend that the party’s ideology is rooted in racism and echoes the legacy of the outlawed Kach movement founded by Meir Kahane. Democratic Party lawmaker Gilad Kariv emphasized that disqualification should be reserved for extreme cases, while attorney Orni Segev accused Ben-Gvir of politicizing the police force by targeting antigovernment protesters and promoting officers with histories of violence toward demonstrators. The Zulat Institute also petitioned for Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism to be barred, citing actions that undermine democratic values and identifying Ben-Gvir as the party’s principal driving force.

Representatives of the Attorney General acknowledged that Otzma Yehudit came “dangerously close” to meeting the disqualification threshold but concluded the evidence did not reach the “critical mass” required. They also noted that while much of the conduct cited involved Ben-Gvir, the party comprises 35 candidates, and similar behavior was not attributed collectively.

In contrast, Otzma Yehudit sought to disqualify the Democrats, citing statements by its leader Yair Golan, including calls for civil disobedience and objections to media outlets. The Democrats deny such allegations, framing their opposition as political dissent within democratic norms.

Separately, on Wednesday, the committee voted to disqualify lawmakers Ofer Cassif of Hadash and Sami Abu Shehadeh of Balad, as well as the United Arab List (Ra’am) and Joint List party slates. Cassif was disqualified for rejecting Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state, while Abu Shehadeh was barred due to support for armed struggle or terrorist organizations. These decisions were made despite the Attorney General’s Office advising insufficient evidence in some cases, highlighting a division between legal assessments and political determinations.

Otzma Yehudit’s platform centers on aggressive security and nationalist policies. Ben-Gvir has openly criticized government strategies toward Gaza and terrorism, advocating for stronger military actions and opposing ceasefire agreements he views as inadequate. The party has also prioritized judicial reform, pushing to increase political influence over the judiciary and backing legislation limiting court authority. Its coalition leverage has enabled it to shape government spending and policy, including securing a role on the Judicial Selection Committee and sponsoring the death penalty for terrorists, which became law in 2026 though remains unimplemented.

Despite controversy and opposition, Otzma Yehudit remains aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc. Ben-Gvir has argued that a robust Otzma Yehudit presence is essential for forming a future fully right-wing government and has indicated intentions to secure prominent positions should that occur.