The Democratic Party, a leftist Israeli formation, has submitted a formal request to the Central Electoral Commission for the far-right party Jewish Power to be excluded from the contest of the legislative elections scheduled for October 27, arguing its racist nature and the fact that "it denies the existence of the State of Israel as a democratic state."
In the document, cited by the Israeli press, it is emphasized that "the representatives of Kahanism (who advocate for a Jewish theocratic state without voting rights for non-Jews) in the Knesset (Parliament) have moved from theory to being in the Government."
According to the demanding formation, these leaders "take advantage of the immunity granted to them to crush the rule of law, violate court orders, refuse to recognize the authority of the Supreme Court, harm state security, and incite violent racism."
The text particularly focuses on the leader of Jewish Power and current Minister of Internal Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, who presents himself as a disciple of the far-right rabbi Meir Kahane, known for promoting a model of a theocratic state and for labeling Arabs as enemies of Israel.
The request reviews Ben Gvir's trajectory at the head of the Ministry of Internal Security and emphasizes that "he exercises governmental authority against the law, systematically acts against the decisions of the Supreme Court, issues operational orders to the Police against protesters, and uses appointments to intimidate."
The document also recalls that the party founded by Kahane, Kach, was excluded from the elections in 1988 — after winning a single seat in 1984, occupied by Kahane himself — and is listed as a terrorist organization in the United States. Additionally, it is remembered that Ben Gvir was sentenced in 2007 for incitement to racism and for supporting a terrorist organization.
In parallel, Jewish Power has submitted its own claim to the Israeli Central Electoral Commission to prohibit the candidacy of the United Arab List, Raam, led by Mansur Abbas, arguing that the formation rejects the existence of Israel as a Jewish state and supports armed struggle against the country. However, on its lists appears the former police officer Yoav Segalovitz, who is Jewish, and Abbas has repeatedly condemned political violence and has acknowledged the Jewish character of Israel.