The Central Elections Committee (CEC) of Israel banned two Arab parties from the election next month: The National Democratic Assembly (also known as Balad) and Ra’am-Ta’al.

Israeli Government spokesman, Giore Pordes, defended the move, explaining that the election committee voted overwhelmingly in favour of banning the parties which have allegations of supporting terrorists, incitement of crimes and terrorism, and refusing to recognize Israel’s right to exist.

Arab lawmakers have traveled to some of Israel’s most vehement enemies including Lebanon and Syria in hopes of support and pressure. This ban does not affect Arab candidates in predominantly Jewish parties nor the Arab-shared Communist Party which has an equal distribution of Jewish and Arab candidates.

Roughly 20 per cent, or 1.4 million, of Israel’s citizens are of Arabian descent.

There are no discriminatory policies per se against Arabs in Israel, who are granted full citizenship and equal treatment under the eyes of formalized law, however, discrimination against Arabs has occurred in indirect ways in Jewish-dominated Israel for decades. The Arab population is overwhelmingly impoverished and less “equal” than that of the Jewish population.

Ahmed Tibi and Jamal Zahalka, leaders of the two banned parties condemned the move by the CEC. “It was a political trial led by a group of Fascists and racists who are willing to see the Knesset without Arabs and want to see the country without Arabs,” said Ahmed Tibi, according to the Associated Press’ coverage of the story, as well as, “You went to war as an elections campaign strategy. Every vote for Kadima is a bullet in the chest of a Palestinian child.”

Tibi and Zahalka will both be bringing the ban before the Supreme Court, and the Elections Committee members have commented that it is unlikely their decision will be upheld.

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