Israel bans Azmi Beshara from taking part in next Israeli Knesset elections

The central elections committee in Israel decided to prevent the election list of the Democratic National Coalition and its chairman, Azmi Beshara, from taking part in the next elections of the Knesset.

The Israeli radio said yesterday that this decision was taken by a majority of 22 members of the Israeli rightist parties and the objection of 19 members of the leftist Parties.

For his party, the chairman of the committee Meachel Mishkel opposed the decision of the said committee saying that there is no convincing legal reason to prevent Beshara and his list from taking part in these elections.

Beshara described this Israeli decision as repressive and was taken because of "groundless" statements attributed to him.

Beshara, on the other hand stressed that the decision of the Israeli elections committee to prevent him and his party from nomination to the legislative elections of the Israeli Knesset on January 28 is an act of discrimination, announcing his determination to assume this decision.

In a statement he made yesterday in Jerusalem, Beshara said that it is the first time in which a complete party is alienated from elections. A matter which reveals the reality of what is called democracy in Israel. He indicated he will submit the case before the Israeli supreme court. He added he will call for boycotting the Israeli elections in case the Higher Court denied his right to nomination.