Yoni Chetboun, Eli Yishai and Baruch Marzel
Yoni Chetboun, Eli Yishai and Baruch MarzelArutz Sheva

Eli Yishai's Yachad - Ha'am Itanu party, with Baruch Marzel from Otzma Yehudit on the fourth spot, presented its Knesset list on Thursday night to the Central Elections Committee, ahead of a run in the elections for the 20th Knesset on March 17.

In presenting the list, Marzel refused to shake the hand of the committee's chairman, Arab Supreme Court judge Salim Joubran, who made a storm in 2012 by refusing to sing Hatikva, the national anthem of the state of Israel which he serves.

"I refused to shake Joubran's hand because at every opportunity he had he came out against the people of Israel and IDF soldiers," Marzel said afterwards to Arutz Sheva.

Marzel reminded that "just recently he asked to cancel the punishment of the terrorist (MK) Hanin Zoabi, and in a session I was present at he behaved with her with fondness."

"Joubran isn't loyal to the people of Israel and I don't shake hands with those who act against us," declared Marzel.

Otzma Yehudit is running with Ha'am Itanu on a technical bloc arrangement by which the two will split after elections, with Yishai hoping to join a Likud coalition and Marzel - the lone Otzma Yehudit representative - in the opposition.

Dr. Michael Ben-Ari, chair of Otzma Yehudit, explained that he agreed to Yishai's demands that Marzel be the sole representative of his party because his goal is to have an ideological voice in the Knesset, beyond any personal interests of being an MK.

"Baruch Marzel's presence is a great victory over haters of Israel," Ben-Ari stated. "Baruch is a faithful student of Rabbi (Meir) Kahane, and was his aide in the Knesset. His return to the Knesset as an MK is a great victory. I'll be happy when Baruch stands before the enemies."