Professor Rachel S. Harris has written an opinion piece in Ha'aretz (2-March-2021) about efforts to disqualify Ibtisam Mara’ana and prevent her from standing for election and the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn the ban issued in February. 

Opinion | 

Israeli and Palestinian Men Are Uniting – to Destroy This Arab Woman’s Political Career 

In Israel’s election, one woman wants to hold men to account for their apathy towards and even defense of gender-based violence. No wonder the backlash against Ibtisam Mara’ana is so sweeping – and vicious. 

 

On Sunday, in a 7:1 decision, the Israeli Supreme Court overturnedefforts by the far right Otzma Yehudit party to disqualify Ibtisam Mara'ana from running in the upcoming national elections.

Mara'ana held the seventh position on the Labor party ticket in the coveted “Arab” spot until Israel’s Central Election Committee voted on 17th February to ban her from standing in the March 23 election. 

Candidates can be disqualified for denying the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, inciting racial hatred or supporting an armed struggle against the State of Israel.

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