Itamar Ben-Gvir of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) Party has reacted to the decision of the Supreme Court to disqualify the candidacy of Party Chairman Michael Bel Ari by saying, "Today is a black day for democracy."
Ben-Gvir noted, "This is the same court that allowed [hostile Arabs Hanin] Zuabi and Azmi Bishara to run in the elections for the Knesset, in the name of democracy and in the name of freedom of speech. But suddenly, when we talk about Dr. Ben Ari, there is no freedom or expression. This decision of the Supreme Court will be remembered in the history of the State of Israel as a serious decision, as a decision that stifles dissent, and as a decision that seriously harmed Israeli democracy. "