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January 14, 2009

Israel Bans Arab Parties from Election
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In news from inside Israel, the Israeli Election Commission has banned
two Arab parties from next month’s parliamentary elections. Israeli
election officials accuse both the United Arab List-Ta’al and Balad
can’t run because they practice incitement, support terror groups and
refuse to recognize Israel’s right to exist. The parties have denounced
the ban as an act of racism and an attack on democracy. Arab lawmaker
Ahmed Tibi said, “It was a political trial led by a group of fascists
and racists who are willing to see the [parliament] without Arabs and
want to see the country without Arabs.”



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