The outcomes apply separately to the electoral lists and to individual candidates. Balad remains part of the Joint List, while Abu Shehadeh's departure from the ballot does not mean that his party has been prohibited from competing.
The Lists Return to the Ballot
The National and the Financial Times reported that the court rejected the grounds advanced for excluding the two Arab lists. Ra'am is led by Mansour Abbas; the Joint List brings together Hadash, Balad and Ta'al.
The court also restored the candidacy of Hadash lawmaker Ofer Cassif. According to The National, seven of the nine judges supported allowing him to stand, while two opposed it. His case therefore produced a different voting split from the decisions on the lists.
Abu Shehadeh Withdraws
Abu Shehadeh's case centered on an article about the Hamas led attack of October 7, 2023. Reuters reported that judges considered his statements deeply objectionable and indicated that a majority was likely to support exclusion; he denied that the article endorsed the attack.
He withdrew before a final ruling on his individual candidacy. Reuters reported that this made that question moot, a distinction that matters when describing the result: withdrawal after a warning from the court is not the same procedural outcome as a final judicial disqualification.
A Dispute Over Political Participation
The exclusions had been sought on grounds including alleged rejection of Israel's identity as a Jewish and democratic state, support for armed struggle against it and incitement to racism, The National reported. The parties rejected the allegations. The court found the case for barring the lists insufficient.
Abu Shehadeh portrayed the proceedings as part of a wider effort to restrict Arab political participation. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed his departure, according to Reuters. Those reactions reflect the positions of the political participants, rather than additional findings by the court.
The Election Still Lies Ahead
The ruling determines who may compete, not who will win seats or join a government. The Financial Times reported that Arab parties could become important in coalition calculations if neither the governing camp nor its principal opponents secure a parliamentary majority.
Voters are due to go to the polls on October 27. The immediate consequence is that the Joint List, Ra'am and Cassif can campaign as eligible participants, while Abu Shehadeh will not stand. Electoral support, turnout and any subsequent coalition negotiations remain unresolved.
