Israel's Supreme Court unanimously overturned a Central Election Committee decision to disqualify an Arab Knesset member. The court said Knesset member Haneen Zoabi, of the Balad party could run in the upcoming elections, Israeli media reported Sunday.
"This ruling proves again that the Central Elections Committee is a political body that abuses its authority and allows politicians to bar their rival for ideological reasons," Zoabi told Army Radio shortly after the high court decision.
A statement issued by the Likud-Beitenu party called the nine-panel judge's decision "regrettable," Ynetnews.com said. A statement issued by the party said "we regret the Supreme Court's decision to allow Knesset member Zoabi to vie for a Knesset seat. Given the court's interpretation of the law it is obvious that the law must change and clearly state that anyone supporting terror is automatically disqualified from being a Knesset member," Ynetnews.com said.