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Abdelmalek Dahamshe, another Arab Knesset member, said: "This destroys what <br>remains of Israeli democracy, which is now sliding into disgraceful <br>apartheid." The decisions take place against a background of the commission's <br>lenient treatment of a Jewish extremist, Baruch Marzel, a supporter of the <br>expulsion of the Arabs from Israel.<br><br>The Daily Telegraph (UK)<br>January 1, 2003<br><br>Row over Arabs' election ban<br><br>By Alan Philps in Jerusalem<br><br>Leaders of Israel's Arabs claimed that they were being disenfranchised last <br>night after the central election commission moved to bar two of the most <br>prominent Arabs in the Knesset from standing in next month's elections.<br><br>The commission voted overwhelmingly to disqualify Ahmed Tibi, a <br>gynaecologist, from standing again on the grounds that he supported military <br>action against Israel.<br><br>Its decision was against the recommendation of Mishael Heshin, its chairman, <br>and advice from Elyakim Rubinstein, the attorney-general, that there was no <br>compelling evidence against Mr Tibi.<br><br>Azmi Bishara, the Knesset's most vocal Arab nationalist, was also expected to <br>be disqualified on the grounds that he supported armed struggle against <br>Israel and wanted to destroy its Jewish character.<br><br>Both men are the best known elected representatives of the Israeli Arabs, who <br>make up one fifth of the population. If the disqualifications are allowed to <br>stand, the Arab minority may be called on to boycott the Jan 28 poll.<br><br>Mr Tibi said the disqualification was "a black day for Israeli democracy". He <br>added: "It is a rejection of the whole Arab minority in Israel, one million <br>Arab citizens who are seeking to elect their authentic leadership."<br><br>Abdelmalek Dahamshe, another Arab Knesset member, said: "This destroys what <br>remains of Israeli democracy, which is now sliding into disgraceful <br>apartheid."<br><br>The decisions take place against a background of the commission's lenient <br>treatment of a Jewish extremist, Baruch Marzel, a supporter of the expulsion <br>of the Arabs from Israel.<br><br>It allowed Mr Marzel to run for an extreme-Right faction against the advice <br>of the state, which accused him of leading the anti-Arab Kach movement, <br>banned as racist. A former high court justice called the decisions "a <br>disgrace". Both Mr Tibi and Mr Bishara, a Christian from Nazareth, deny that <br>they support armed struggle, though they are supporters of the right of <br>Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to free themselves from Israeli <br>occupation.<br><br>
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