Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein attacked the decision by Israel’s High Court of Justice permitting the Arab Balad party to run in elections for 21st Knesset, as will permitting Hadash’s Ofer Ksif to run, thereby overruling the decision to ban the party by the Central Elections Committee. “Balad is a party that does not recognize the State of Israel as the home of the Jewish People and it has no place in Knesset”, Edelstein wrote in his letter.

Speaker Edelstein, who holds the number two slot on the Likud list, expressed his criticism over the High Court decision on Monday evening, citing the Balad party does not recognize Israel’s legitimate right to exist, as well as the decision to permit the candidacy of Ofer Ksif of Hadash, who was also disqualified by the Central Elections committee.

Edelstein made his remarks expressed his criticism against the High Court of Justice in a Tel Aviv meeting with 400 new immigrants. He added that Ksif is even worse than Hanin Zoabi and n Zahalka Guatitas.

Edelstein wrote “the High Court’s decision this evening is a major era and the public will pay for dearly. Balad, a party which delegitimize is the state of Israel as the Jewish state, has no place in the Israeli Knesset. One who gives legitimization to harming IDF soldiers also [as no place in Knesset]. We will continue to battle against anti-Zionist entities, provocateurs, in the 21st Knesset.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)