Hanin Zoabi
Hanin ZoabiFlash 90

Labor-Hatnua representatives to the Central Elections Committee have voted in favor of the disqualification of 20th Knesset candidates Hanin Zoabi and Baruch Marzel. 

Zoabi is currently an MK for Balad and plans to run on the Joint Arab List. Marzel, an Otzma Yehudit member, is running with Yachad-Ha'am Itanu as part of a technical bloc joint list between the two parties. 

It appears Labor-Hatnua has returned to its original stance that it will support the disqualification of the radical Zoabi, despite saying earlier this week that it would wait to hear the opinion of Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein. 

Weinstein noted Wednesday that while some of the views of these two candidates make him uncomfortable, in his legal opinion, there is no valid reason to disqualify them. 

Labor-Hatnua waffled this week on supporting the disqualification of Zoabi after being strong-armed by by the Joint Arab List. The leaders of that party have threatened not to recommend Herzog for prime minister should he continue to support barring Zoabi.

Army Radio also reported on Monday that Labor-Hatnua decided to backtrack on its support for the move after several members of the list expressed their dissatisfaction over the idea.

However, the change of heart did not last long, in spite of the Attorney General's recommendation, and Labor-Hatnua have formally supported the requests for the disqualification of both Zoabi and Marzel. 

Labor-Hatnua's final decision is probably an attempt not to be labelled as far-left and therefore bring in votes from center and center-left constituents.