Moshe Feiglin Criticizes Disqualification Mechanism for Knesset Elections
Moshe Feiglin criticized the disqualification of Knesset election lists, arguing that legal violations should be handled through criminal law rather than political bans.
Moshe Feiglin, chairman of Zehut, has spoken out against the disqualification of candidates and candidate lists from running for the Knesset, arguing that the mechanism itself contradicts foundational democratic principles.
His remarks follow the Central Elections Committee's decision to reject a petition seeking to bar the joint list of Religious Zionism, led by Bezalel Smotrich, and Zehut, led by Moshe Feiglin, from participating in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections.
"The entire concept of disqualifying candidates and lists is incompatible with basic democratic principles," Feiglin stated. According to him, when a candidate violates the law through speech or action, the matter should be addressed through criminal law rather than by stripping them of their political rights.
"Unlawful speech must be dealt with by the law," he added, "but the statute book does not include punishment in the form of depriving someone of the right to vote or to be elected."
Feiglin also reflected on his own past, asserting that even a conviction for offenses related to speech or political activity should not, in his view, prevent an individual from presenting their candidacy to the public.
"Whoever is accused of incitement or sedition—like myself—let them serve time in prison," he said, "but even from there, they retain the right to put forward their candidacy."
These statements come against the backdrop of a series of stormy debates within the Central Elections Committee in recent days. While petitions to disqualify Religious Zionism-Zehut, Otzma Yehudit, and The Democrats were rejected, the committee decided to disqualify Ra'am, MK Ofer Cassif, and Balad Chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh. Several of these rulings are expected to reach the Supreme Court.
