Source: http://versa.cardozo.yu.edu/opinions/kach-v-central-election-committee-twelfth-knesset
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 08:52:38+00:00

Document:
The Appeal revolved around the decision of the Central Election Committee for the Twelfth Knesset, under its authority according to section 63 of the Knesset Elections Act [Consolidated Version] 1969, that the “Kach” List be barred from participating in elections to the Knesset, under section 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset. The Appellant’s argue that section 7A, which was added to Basic Law: The Knesset is invalid for the following reasons: it is inconsistent with the principle of equality as established by section 4 of Basic Law: The Knesset; it is an extreme divergence from the principles of democracy and harms the citizen’s right to vote and to be elected, and that the causes for bar – which are listed within it in the absence of definitions – contradict each other. For the purposes of the considerations weighed by the Central Elections Committee, the Appellants argue, they are irrelevant considerations flawed by unreasonableness and discrimination. They further maintained that the “Kach” List must not be viewed a list to which section 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset applies. At the outset of the hearing in the Appeal, the Appellants sought to have three of the Supreme Court Justices recused from adjudicating the appeal, as they had previously adjudicated a matter involving the “Kach” List.
A. 1. A judge is not barred from adjudicating a matter merely because he had previously adjudicated and decided the matter.
2. The resolution for the plight of a party, whose matters are often brought before a court, is in the nature and character of the judicial role and the judicial mental discipline.
3. It is presumed that a judge of the highest appellate level not be wrongfully influenced from things that are irrelevant or that are not raised in the particular matter before him, and that he is ready to hear any case with patience, tolerance and openness relevant challenges and new perspectives on issues he heard before and are raised before him again.
B. 1. It is possible to change section 4 of Basic Law: The Knesset, once a majority of Knesset members give their voice to it. In this regard it is irrelevant whether we are concerned with a slight divergence or an extreme divergence from the principle laid in section 4 above, as in allowing an amendment passed by a special majority, the legislature did not establish an exception to the nature or material scope of the possible amendment.
2. Section 46 of Basic Law: The Knesset gives explicit support to conflicting legislation, which constitutes implicit amendment to section 4. Such treatment of implicit amendment results in the conclusion that there is no foundation for the argument that a piece of legislation that changes any of the norms provided by section 4 must include an explicit declaration that the new legislation comes to diverge from section 4 of Basic Law: The Knesset.
3. Under the circumstances at hand, this is legislation made explicitly in order to create an exception for the principle in section 4 of Basic Law: The Knesset. It is a direct amendment of the Basic Law within the same legislative framework, by integrating an additional provision into the Basic Law, alongside section 4, when the implication for section 4 is apparent and clear to all.
C. Even according to commonly acceptable principles, the court does not see itself authorized to review the validity of legislation by the Knesset, aside from cases where there is a formal argument as to the manner of the law’s enactment.
D. 1. Exercising a basic right and implementing it de facto cannot be absolute, as there may be extreme circumstances created where exercising a particular right by one conflicts in those same concrete circumstances with the lawful right of another or become a serious and immediate risk that must be prevented.
2. Restricting liberties, including the right to be elected, requires direct and explicit legislation that would create clear limits and would not leave the matter to unfettered discretion of some administrative authority or another.
3. Such legislation ought to include two substantive components: one, which would express the actual granting of the formal power, and the other which would define the circumstances under which it may be exercised.
4. The possibility of legislation that would limit the right of lists that seek to put the mere existence of the state at risk to participate in elections does not raise difficulties on a principle level. However to the extent that there are attempts to expand the circle of the type of lists to be barred in advance from participating in elections process, the implication of such legislation on the very existence and realization of the fundaments of democracy would necessarily grow.
E. 1. The amendment to the Basic Law: The Knesset as reflected in section 7A should be interpreted from within it according to its language and context and on the basis of the purpose of this piece of legislation.
2. The nature of the issue addressed by section 7A of the Basic Law is the limit of a constitutional basic right which carries by its nature the standard for the appropriate interpretation of the provision narrowly, strictly and limitedly and that its instructions not be implemented but for in extreme cases.
3. Such interpretive approach does not conflict with the written law. It is an understanding of the legislative purpose which did not seek to minimize protection of liberties but to protect them in light of a real risk.
F. 1. Section 7A does not address the goals and action that reflect the nature of the list and which are a natural outcome of its identity. It targets phenomena such as those listed in paragraphs (1) to (3) of section 7A, which are dominant characteristic central among the aspirations or activities of the list, which for their purpose the list exists and acts and for whose advancement it seeks to participate in the elections.
2. In designing the elements of section 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset, the legislature did not include the element of a clear and imminent danger or of a probable possibility for realizing the danger reflected in the goals or actions of the lists, or any other similar test which ties between the wrongful action and the possibility of its materialization.
3. The term “explicitly” in section 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset refers to open and declared things, but also when one wishes to rely on implicit information, the final conclusion must be clear and unequivocally point to the issue being included among those listed in section 7A among the dominant characteristics of the list and its tendency to translate its goals into action.
4. The evidence in such case must be clear, unambiguous and persuasive.
G. 1. There is not much to the argument as to a seeming conflict between the different paragraphs of section 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset. The existence of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people does not contradict the State’s democratic character, and these two can co-exist with complete harmony.
2. Incitement to racism can lead to barring a list from participation in elections, even if the alleged incitement seems to be done out of the goal to keep the State of Israel existing as the state of the Jewish people. The legislature’s premise is that the State of Israel can exist as the state of the Jewish people without incitement to racism.
3. Under the circumstances here, the goals and actions, attributed to the Second Appellant, implicate the principle that establishes the rights of the citizens of the state to vote and to be elected, which derives from the democratic nature of the state.
H. 1. The legislature did not include in Basic Law: The Knesset a definition for the term “racism.” Under these circumstances, we may be assisted, among others, but the definition included in section 144A of the Penal Act 1977 in order to identify the elements of the phenomenon and in order to examine the Appellant’s goals and actions.
2. It is possible for a similar linguistic term to be interpreted differently across two different pieces of legislation, but it is all generally influenced by the legislative context and the legislative purpose of the law. Additionally, there is no converse interpretive rule that the same term in different statutes must lead to adopting a different and distinct interpretation for that term in each of the statutes.
3. The argument that “racism” refers only to distinctions and differences on a biological level – that is based on distinctions along the lines of the human races – must be rejected. Persecution in all its forms, whose reasons may be nationalistic, is included nowadays within the common meaning of the phenomenon of racism.
I. 1. The Act for Correcting Administration Procedures (Decisions and Reasoning) 1958 is irrelevant under the circumstances here, whether in light of establishing the body which is entitled to the reasoned response or whether in light of the definition of a “public employee” in section 1 of the Act.
2. Following HCJ 620/85, when a collective body – such as the Knesset – is concerned, a body that is under no obligation to give reasons for its decisions, one can infer to some extent as to its considerations from reviewing the minutes of its discussions.
3. Under the circumstances, the Court has all the material that was before the Central Elections Committee, including the minutes of the discussions where the committee members expressed their reasoning. From the substantive review one may well surmise the basis for the decision to bar and the Second Appellant was aware of this.
J. 1. When subjecting the decision of the Central Elections Committee to judicial review, the Court examines whether the process of the discussion was lawful. A lawful discussion means, generally, that the rules of natural procedure were not violated, that the procedures established by the legislation governing the committee or that were set out in its guidelines were maintained, that the decision was given by those authorized to do so, and that it fits the authority of the decision maker.
2. The Court further examines whether the Central Elections Committee exercised its authority while using it for its purposes. When no mistake in law occurred and when the decision is not flawed or influenced by fraud, the questions considered are whether the decision was given on the basis of evidence that supported it and whether it did not violate the law for another reason. The Committee must exercise its authority while using it for its purposes. This duty is comprised of several elements and they are that no irrelevant factors were considered, that the Committee did not ignore relevant information and that the decision was not so extremely unreasonable that a reasonable committee could not have made and that it was not proven that exercising the authority was merely an arbitrary act.
3. The political configuration of a body that is formed in order to organize the elections and exercise authorities under the Knesset Elections Act [Consolidated Version] when party activity is at its highest, it possibly carries natural incidental outcomes. Those who expect that a body comprised of clearly political elements would operate in a manner in which a court does, conflates one with the other.
4. Under the circumstances here, the Second Appellant’s arguments as to the self-interested considerations of the members of the Central Elections Committee and their parties and as to their lack of good faith are merely hypotheses and speculations by the Appellants, which are generally established by the structure of the system deciding as to bars and ineligibility. Should the decision be found by a court to be justified on its merits in light of the material before the court, this would undermine the meaning of the above arguments.
K. 1. Under the circumstances, the list of the Second Appellant was lawfully barred by the Central Elections Committee because its publications, its speeches, its proposals and its actions or an incitement to racism as well as an undermining of the State’s democratic character, as provided by section 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset.
2. The level of activity by the Second Appellant, in all its forms, the extremity in presenting the issues and the actions that accompany them, and the serious distortion of the State’s nature and governance as a result, all paint the goals and actions the excessive seriousness that is sufficient in order to base the decision of the Central Elections Committee.
On behalf of the Appellee: Adv. D. Beinish, Deputy State’s Attorney; Adv.
made along with the other justices on the panel believe there is no reason for any justice to recuse himself from this case. Constitutional issues, like any other legal issue, frequently appear before this Court, and, on occasion, two parties may reappear as parties before this Court. Sometimes, a party may reappear after appearing before this Court sitting as either the High Court of Justice or as the Court of Appeals. The appealing party in this case, a political party in the Knesset, or its leaders, has petitioned this Court sitting as the High Court of Justice a number of times. It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that most of the judges on this Court have already heard a case in which the [Kach] party was a litigant. In many of these cases, if not all of them, questions involving the objectives and the conduct of the Appellant have been raised and adjudicated by various panels of this Court.
An opinion expressed by a judge in the context of a decision of the High Court of Justice addresses the specific issue raised by a particular case or a given time. The nature of the judicial role is to be open to arguments designed to shed light on a set of factual circumstances or to develop a legal theory. A judge is not disqualified by the mere fact that he has already adjudicated the legal issue in question.
case to which the Appellant was a party, and it is inconceivable that we would come to a point at which this Court would be unable to hear the case of the Appellant or any other concerned party (See CrimA 323/76 Nir v. State of Israel, IsrSC 30(3) 592, 594, n.7). If we were to adopt another approach, we could come to the untenable situation in which we would not be able to adjudicate such cases. As the U.S. Supreme Court has said, “There was no other appellate tribunal to which, under the law, he could go” (Evans v. Gore, 40 S.Ct 550, 551 (1920)).
Adv. Papo claims that Section 7a is void because it contradicts Section 4 of the same Basic Law, which the legislature has granted superior status. In other words, he argues that disqualifying a party from participating in Knesset elections violates Section 4’s guarantee of equality, which, as mentioned is Section 4, is among the most basic foundations of our electoral system. Because [Section 4] states that it cannot be amended except by a majority of Knesset members, its provisions should be viewed not only as protected, but also as superior to any other legislation. Therefore, any legislation found to be inconsistent with Section 4 should be nullified by this Court.
We do not accept this claim. Section 4 sets forth the principles of the Israeli election system and dictates, among other provisions, that the elections should be equal (See HCJ 98/69 Bergman v. Finance Minister, IsrSC 23(1) 693). However, Section 4 informs us how the legislature can legislate while deviating from the principles set forth by Section 4. It states, “This Section cannot be amended except by a majority of members of the Knesset.” This means that it can be amended so long as a majority of (more than 60) Knesset members vote to do so. It does not matter whether the deviation from the principles set forth in Section 4 is significant or not, because the legislature, allowing for the amendment of the Section, did not restrict the nature or extent of the potential amendment. By way of an absolute majority vote, various provisions have been enacted in the election laws that may constitute a deviation from the norms of equality (See, e.g., 5729/1969 Knesset and Local Elections Act (on funding, limiting expenses and auditing) (as amended, 5730); 5769/1969 Elections Law (on the validity of laws); see also, HCJ 260, 246/81 Derekh Eretz Organization v. Broadcasting Authority, IsrSC 35(4) 1; HCJ 141/82 Rubinstein v. Speaker of the Knesset, IsrSC 37(3) 141).
Therefore, Section 4 does not prevent the legislature from enacting provisions that deviate from the principles set forth in Section 4, so long as it does so in a manner consistent with the Basic Law.
Finally, counsel for the Appellants also confirmed that Section 7a was passed by a majority of Knesset members. In light of what we have said, nothing in Section 4 requires us to overturn Section 7a.
7a. The accepted principles of this Court do not allow it to invalidate legislation passed by the Knesset, except in cases formally challenging the procedure by which the law was adopted (See, e.g., HCJ 98/69). In this context, I see no reason to address this constitutional argument in depth. I would add though, that as far as I am concerned, this argument is essentially the same as the previous one comparing Section 7a and Section 4.
education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence.
Basic rights and their application cannot be absolute because of the likelihood that in extreme circumstances the use of such rights by one person will conflict with the constitutional rights of another or may create extreme and immediate danger that must be stopped. However, the authority for establishing general limitations or limitations in specific circumstances rests with the Knesset (HCJ 337/81 Mitrani v. Transportation Minister, IsrSC 37, 337).
In other words, limiting these freedoms, including the right to be elected, requires direct and explicit legislation, clearly delineating the limitations without allowing for unlimited discretion on the part of administrative or other authorities. We note, however, that in order to safeguard and honor these freedoms not only is a formal statute necessary, but also the establishment, within the statute, of the standards by which these powers can be activated. Such statutes must have two essential components. The first expresses the fact that formal authority has been granted, and the other clearly defines the circumstances in which such authority can be exercised.
It was stressed that the possibility that legislation limiting the right of parties wishing to harm the very existence of the State to participate in elections (see EA 1/65) is not, theoretically, difficult in principle; however, as one seeks to expand the number of parties excluded from the elections, the ramifications of such legislation upon the continued existence and realization of our basic democratic foundations will necessarily grow as well.
here, the explicit intent of the legislature prevails, especially because we are dealing with legislation that was enacted pursuant to a detailed ruling of this Court.
The beginning of Section 7a refers to the sources from which indication of the negative behavior described in subsections (1), (2) and (3) can be inferred. In that context, the legislature refers to goals or actions. This means that we are dealing with the political party’s outlook and opinions which express its goals or, alternatively or additionally, the party’s conduct which demonstrates and reflects its character. A party’s objectives can generally be derived from its formal platform or from its advertisements, speeches or opinions expressed within political frameworks.
The legislature added that the three grounds for disqualification, outlined in subsections (1) to (3), can be expressed either explicitly or implicitly. The terms “explicit” and “implicit” includes that which is clearly expressed and that which can be derived from the circumstances or concluded from a stated goal or action that, by itself, are not blatant expressions of unlawful conduct or intent pursuant to subsections (1), (2) or (3).
In setting forth the principles of Section 7a, the legislature did not require the existence of clear and present danger, the probability of danger arising from the objectives and conduct of the party in question, or any similar test that looks to the connection between the condemned action and the possible results. Through this, the legislature changed the legal status until the enactment of Basic Law: The Knesset (amendment no. 9).
be strict and narrow, and Section 7a should be reserved for only the most extreme cases. This interpretive approach does not conflict with the statute, but is rather a result of a proper understanding of the purpose of the statute, which does not seek to limit freedoms, but to protect them against actual danger. In other words, [Section 7a] should be applied in a way that takes into account the great weight given to our fundamental liberties.
(3) refer to dominant characteristics that are central to the aspirations or to the actions of the party characteristics that represent the reason for the party’s establishment and because of which the party wants to be elected. [We refer to] a platform or behavior that is prominent and typical of such a party, though it is certainly possible that they will be accompanied by other objectives and conduct as well. In any event, the facts should indicate that the objectives or conduct, as stated in Section 7a, are central among the objectives and conduct of the political party in question and that there is intent to implement the objectives and realize their [goals].
the objective from the circumstances that demonstrate the true nature of a particular action without an accompanying explicit declaration or statement. Sometimes we can arrive at a conclusion through logical reasoning even without an explicit declaration. On the other hand, the expression “explicitly” refers to clear and declared matters. However, even when arriving at a conclusion based on implicit data, the final conclusion must be clear and unequivocal that the behavior in question is included in subsections (1) through (3); that the trait is among the dominant characteristics of the party; and that it intends to act upon its objectives. Once again, the evidence in such a case must be clear, unequivocal and convincing.
As we have mentioned, Adv. Papo claims that there is an internal contradiction between subsections (1) and (2), since denying the democratic nature of the State (subsection (2)) can stem from the desire to maintain the State as the state of the Jewish nation (subsection (1)). Under this approach, the desire to be loyal to one of the stated goals that the legislature wishes to protect can also be what causes a party to be disqualified. Furthermore, within his critique of Section 7a, he argues that the term “democratic” in subsection (2) and the term “racism” in subsection 3 are not properly defined.
the Regime of the State of Israel, at 262, (Ministry of Defense, 5748)).
The democratic concept as well as its implementation is reflected by the government and the legal and practical status of the State’s citizens and residents and, among other things, the principle of the rule of law, which includes equality before the law. The characteristics of democracy flow through the State’s political, social and cultural makeup. A great expression of this is the guarantee of basic rights and freedoms.
The purpose of Section 7a is to create a separation between legitimate parliamentary activities and actions of the type described by the statute. It is as if it states that Knesset members are not allowed to take part in parliamentary positions adopting such objectives or conduct.
The history of the Jewish people is the basis for why we see the importance of eliminating racism, so much so that an explicit prohibition is enshrined in our constitution.
debate the practical significance and application of the principles of the Declaration of Independence in the Jewish state.
(1) and (2) is doomed to failure even if we apply it to the purpose of the legislation. Each subsection is self-sufficient and exists alongside the other. Not only is there no contradiction between them, but we also cannot assume that the legislature intended for one of the provisions to diminish the illegal nature of an objective or conduct just because a party wishes to advance one provision that the legislature wishes to protect at the expense of another. To illustrate, from the wording of Section 7a it seems that incitement to racism (a term we will discuss further) can disqualify a party from participating in an election, even if the incitement is supposedly driven by the will to maintain the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish nation. The desire to maintain the State, as stated in subsection (1) cannot serve as a license for racism. The presumption of the legislature, with which we agree, is that it is possible for the State of Israel to be the state of the Jewish nation without inciting racism.
There is no reason for us to fully define the term “democracy” in this context. The question before us does not require this, and it will suffice to address the implication of the Appellants’ objectives and conduct upon a citizen’s right to vote and be elected, which undoubtedly stems from the democratic nature of the State; and, all the more so when such objectives and conduct are part of a campaign that aims to harm the equality that exists between citizens in both rights and stature.
Racism is the persecution, humiliation, degradation, open hatred, hostility, or violence, or causing strife for a certain group or portions of the population because of their color or their membership in a certain race or national- ethnic origin.
No other law defines the term in question.
question. I believe we can look, inter alia, to the definition in Section 144a [of the Penal Code] to identify some of the characteristics of the aforementioned phenomenon in judging the nature of the objectives and conduct of the Appellants.
Section 144a of the Penal Code includes a definition for the term “racism.” At the beginning of the section its states that the two definitions in it refer to “this article,” which directly refers to Chapter 8, Article 1(a) of the Penal Code. Nevertheless, I see no reason for us not to use this definition in order to help us understand Section 7a of the Basic Law: The Knesset, without creating an exclusive list. The amendments to the Basic Law: The Knesset and to the Penal Code were proposed at the same time to further the same goal, namely, for the first time, to combat racism in different ways. The two amendments are explicitly in pari materia, meaning that they are meant to prevent the same behavior, and only differ as to where they apply. One of the amendments was enacted to fill a legislative void found by this Court (first mentioned in EA 1/65, and then in EA 3, 2/84), and the second amendment was enacted to stress the wrongness of racism by making it a separate crime listed in the Penal Code.
While we accept that a term can be interpreted differently for different pieces of legislation, they are all influenced by the legislative context and the purpose of the law (See CA 31/63 Feldberg v. Director of Tax Law Relating to Land Value Increase, IsrSC 17, 1231, 1235; HCJ 442/71 Lansky v. Interior Minister, IsrSC 26(2) 337, 349). There is no contradicting rule of interpretation compelling the interpretation of a term differently than the way it is interpreted in other statutes (HCJ 441/86 Masada Ltd. v. Appraiser of Large Factories, IsrSC 40(4) 788, 798 note b).
another statute, when the definition is applicable under the circumstances, regarding its subject, context and legislative purpose (CA 341/80 Eili v. Sasson, IsrSC 36(3) 281).
Adv. Papo claims over and over again that the term “racism” refers only to differentiations and distinctions based on biological features that distinguish between different races of people.
This claim is unfounded. As we have seen, the Penal Code definition of the term also refers to unlawful acts, as defined there, against people of different national origins. Likewise, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racism and legislation in other countries, including Austria (section 283 and 302 of its 1974 penal code), Belgium (1981 law), Bulgaria (section 35 of their constitution and section 196 of its penal code), Denmark (section 266(b) of its penal code), Finland (chapter 13, article 5 of its penal code) and France (sections 72-545 of its 1972 Law Against Racism), as well as other examples. Different forms of persecution based on nationality are widely accepted today as a form of racism.
Adv. Papo also claims that “incitement” is not listed among the prohibited actions in the provision defining racism. To support his claim, he turns to the Knesset debate regarding the suggestion to include incitement in the definition in the new Section 144a of the Penal Code, but notes that the suggestion was ultimately not accepted.
I do not see how the [Knesset] debate helps us interpret Section 7a. Subsection (3) explicitly mentions incitement; therefore, there can be no doubt that in the context, the legislature refers to incitement. Furthermore, even in the case of the Penal Code, such a claim cannot stand because the criminal offense (unlike the definition of “racism”) explicitly refers to publicizing with the intent to incite.
The 5719 law is not relevant to this issue because of those entitled to a reasoned response, [who, in this case, are those seeking a disqualification], and in light of the definition of the term “public servant” under Section 1 of the law.
…When we refer to a collective body such as the Knesset, which has no requirement to rationalize its decisions, we can, to a certain extent, understand its considerations by examining the transcript of its hearings (HCJ 306/81).
We also have all the information that was before the committee, including transcripts from the hearings in which the members stated their reasoning. Included in the transcripts are the exhaustive and well reasoned summaries of the committee’s chairman. Thus, we see that the reasons and the background of the committee are available to us and to the Appellant.
There can be no doubt that, practically speaking, the underlying reason for the committee’s decision can be understood, and that the Appellant was well aware of it. When informing the Appellant of its decision, the committee cited the paragraphs of Section 7a that it believed to be relevant to the matter and notified the Appellant of its right to appeal the decision as required by the Knesset Elections Act.
Furthermore, as the court hearing this appeal, this Court has the right to reach, based on the material before it, any decision that the Committee could have made (HCJ 86/58 Boganim v. Chief of General Staff of the IDF, IsrSC 12, 1653, 1663, note d). Essentially, this Court, hearing such an appeal, has a lot of authority and, in light of this, one reason or another does not hold us back from reaching a decision on the merits.
Therefore, claiming that there is a lack of reasoning in the decision is baseless.
The claim of discrimination in the case before us is unfounded. This time, for the first time, there were many requests to disqualify parties, including that of the Appellant, which, asked to disqualify all the other parties. Therefore, from a factual standpoint, there is no basis for the claim that the committee only took up the Appellant’s case.
If [the members of the committee] indeed met internally with their respective parties, a claim which has been denied, it would probably reveal a side effect of the statutory arrangement in the Knesset Elections Act, according to which, the Central Election Committee, which is made up of representatives of the parties, is the body that determines whether a particular party is approved or disqualified. In other words, it is a natural byproduct of the political segment of the committee, established to organize the elections and that also has authority pursuant to Section 63 of the aforementioned act, when political activity is at its peak (See also, HCJ 731/84 Kariv v. Knesset Committee of the Knesset, IsrSC 39(3) 337, 338 (S. Levin, J.); HCJ 620/85 at 242 (Deputy President). In both EA 1/65 and EA 2, 3/84, this Court has pointed out the problem of authorizing a political body to disqualify political parties. As it appears from [the law], the legislature disagrees and has left the current arrangement as is, even after enacting Section 7a. This demonstrates the importance of the right to appeal to the courts, which is guaranteed by the Knesset Elections Act.
Nevertheless, one cannot expect a politicized committee to conduct itself in the same way as a court.
allegation of bad faith. All we have are the assumptions and speculations of the Appellants, which, as we have said, are essentially anchored in the structure of the system by which disqualifications are decided. If we find the decision to be just on its merits based upon the information before us, the aforementioned allegations regarding bad faith and self-interest are irrelevant.
punishment; revoking their right to petition the High Court of Justice; separating where they can bathe; revoking their social rights and forbidding them from serving in the army, while hurting and insulting those who already serve – all these actions and anything similar are all clear indicators of anti-democratic or racist acts. The same applies even if these suggestions are stated in a newspaper article which is published with a proper license or if the idea surfaces by way of proposed legislation in the Knesset (HCJ 620/85 at 210).
A resident alien shall not be settled in border districts nor in poor habitation but in a good residence in the centre of the Land of Israel where he can pursue his skills, as it is written: he shall dwell with you, in the midst of you, in the place which he shall choose within one of your gates, where it pleases him best, and you shall not oppress him.
For it is stated: The Lord is good to all and His tender mercies extend to all His works, and further: Its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace.
The objectives or conduct of a political party are included in subsections (1), (2) or (3).
The objective in question is central and essential to the party’s platform and not merely a subordinate or marginal issue; the objective must reflect the party’s identity. The same applies, mutatis mutandis, regarding conduct, as it must be an act that prominently expresses the nature and character of the party.
The party is acting to implement its goals in order to turn what is currently conceptual into a realization.
[The party’s] participation in the elections is a method for the party to realize its objectives or further its conduct.
The negative conditions listed in subsections (1), (2) and (3) manifest themselves with great gravity and are taken to the extreme.
The evidence of the presence of all of the above must be clear, convincing and unequivocal.
Throughout the examination of the relevant factors listed above, it must always be remembered that it is preferable to allow the freedoms than to limit them.
considered democratic, is pointless. We refer to the definition of democracy which is accepted today and in accordance with our own view, according to which, for example, not allowing women to vote would be considered a distinctly anti- democratic act, which no one would even think of doing. The same applies to the idea of collectively depriving citizens belonging to a certain group of their rights, which is also an absolutely anti-democratic act that one should not come to terms with.
The Appellant’s objectives and conduct are also clearly racist: systematically fanning the flames of ethnic and national hate, which causes divisiveness and animosity; calling for the forceful deprivation of rights; systematic and intentional degradation directed towards a specific part of the population selected because of their national origin and ethnicity; [calling] for their humiliation in ways very similar to the terrible experiences of the Jewish nation. All these reasons suffice, in light of the evidence presented, to come to this conclusion regarding incitement to racism. The extent of the actions taken by the Appellant in all its forms; the extremism through which it presents the action accompanying it; and the terrible distortion of the nature of the State and its regime that flow from it point to the severity of its objectives and conduct that requires that we affirm the decision of the Central Election Committee.
We have decided to dismiss the appeal.

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