Members of the Election Committee will discuss the request to disqualify the Labor Party candidate for the Knesset • All coalition factions are expected to support its disqualification • Spokesman Mandelblit opposes
36 members of the plenum of the Central Election Commission will discuss today (Wednesday) the applications for the disqualification of Abtisam Mara'ana-Menuhin, which is in seventh place on the Knesset job list, as well as the disqualification of the RAAM factions and the joint list.
First meeting of the Labor Party after the primaries for the list, about two weeks ago // Photo: Shmuel Buharis
The Election Commission estimated last night that a majority is expected to disqualify Mara'ana-Menuhin, because representatives of all coalition factions will support it.
The request for its disqualification was submitted by Maozia Segal, a member of the Labor Party who became disabled by the IDF after being seriously wounded in the war of attrition in the Syrian enclave in 1974, as well as by a Jewish power faction.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit expressed his opposition to Maraana's disqualification.
In a comprehensive opinion delivered to the Election Commission in response to the disqualification demand, Mandelblit explained that Maraana "has in recent years spoken out publicly against the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, incited racism and even incited violence and supported terrorist organizations and terrorist operatives against Israel."
Mandelblit noted that in view of the Supreme Court's ruling regarding the criteria for disqualification of candidates, the limited evidence presented in the two applications for disqualification of her candidacy for the Knesset "for the most part does not establish any of the three grounds for disqualification - does not establish an evidentiary basis for accepting the disqualification applications; "Critical evidence 'of unequivocal, clear and convincing evidence in relation to at least one of the three grounds for disqualification, which is required by the Supreme Court ruling to disqualify a candidate from running in the Knesset elections."
The ombudsman further mentioned that in her response, Mara'a said that she "regrets the way and the way things were written and this is not a statement in silence.
No and no, she appeared on Saturday night for an interview on Channel 12 News in which she uncompromisingly explained her position, according to which these are statements from the past that do not represent her today and that in retrospect she would have styled things differently.
The respondent stated that this was a 'poor' statement, in any case and in particular she expressed sincere remorse for the content of the matters to anyone who was harmed by them. "
In response to Mandelblit's opinion, Itamar Ben Gvir said that "once again the ombudsman is folding and equipping Israel's enemies.
When it came to Ben-Ari, Marzel and Gupstein, the ombudsman was quick to pass judgment, but when it comes to someone who is proven beyond any doubt that it denies the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish state, and expresses open support for terrorism - the ombudsman is silent.
In the next Knesset, we will stop the rule of jurists and make sure that the judicial system has a Jewish Zionist agenda again. "
In a powerful request for Israel to disqualify Maraana's candidacy, evidence was presented regarding her views on Israel and the Jewish people.
For example, in 2008 she said in a press interview that she would "destroy the memory of Jacob, that you return to the United States or Poland."
She also posted a Facebook post in which she expressed support for an Islamic Jihad terrorist operative who was hungry on Saturday, called on the Tel Aviv Municipality to illuminate the municipal building in the colors of the PLO flag and even wrote in praise of Nakba Day.
It should be noted that even if the plenum of the Election Commission decides to disqualify Maraana, it will be able to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court which can overturn the disqualification.
