WORLD BRIEFING / ISRAEL
Two small Arab political parties critical of the military offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip face disqualification from Israel’s Feb. 10 election after a parliamentary panel accused them of supporting terrorist groups and opposing Israel’s identity as a Jewish state.
Balad and the United Arab List-Taal, which hold seven of the 120 seats up for grabs in the parliamentary election, have until Jan. 22 to appeal Monday’s decision.
Michael Ben Ari of the right-wing National Union called the two parties “the enemy’s representatives” in parliament. Ahmed Tibi, a leader of the United Arab List-Taal, called the decision racist.
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