The Supreme Court has cleared its schedule in order to prepare for the Tuesday hearings on appeals regarding Baruch Marzel, Sha'ul Mofaz, Moshe Feiglin, Ahmed Tibi, and Azmi Bishara. The last four have appealed decisions by the Elections Commission to disqualify their candidacies for the Knesset in the upcoming elections, while two Labor Party MKs have appealed the decision to allow Marzel to run.
Defense Minister Mofaz's candidacy was invalidated on the grounds that he did not fulfill the required six-month cooling-off period after he retired as IDF Chief of Staff. Mofaz contends that the six months should be calculated from the date on which he completed active duty, and not from the date he formally retired from the army. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who appointed Mofaz as Defense Minister when the national unity government fell apart over two months ago, has said that he would retain Mofaz as Defense Minister even if he is not a Knesset Member - and has also given his support to Mofaz's appeal.
The Supreme Court will hear the appeals on Tuesday before a panel of eleven judges, and the decisions must be handed down by Thursday. Most petitions are argued before a panel of only three judges, and the larger forum is an indication of the significant public and legal ramifications the court attributes to these matters.
Feiglin, leader of the Likud's Jewish Leadership faction, was disqualified by Elections Committee head Judge Michael Cheshin on the grounds that his conviction for organizing protests against the Rabin government and the Oslo process involved a "crime of moral turpitude." Those convicted of such crimes may not run for public office until seven years have passed. Feiglin has appealed the judge's decision to place his conviction in this category. He and others have said that the judge's decision, and not his own conviction, is a "mark of shame."
The Court will also hear on Tuesday petitions by the two disqualified Arab candidates, MKs Azmi Bishara and Ahmed Tibi. The two were disqualified for having expressed support for anti-Israel violence - Bishara specifically mentioned Hamas and Hizbullah - and for negating the Jewish character of the State of Israel.
Finally, the Elections Committee decision not to accept Hon. Cheshin's recommendation to disqualify Baruch Marzel of Hevron is being challenged by Labor Party MKs Pines and Oshaya. Cheshin, Pines and Oshaya say that Marzel is a member of the illegal Kach party, but Marzel denies this. Currently #2 on Michael Kleiner's Herut Party list, Marzel noted with bitterness today that the Labor MKs are in the forefront of the campaign to allow Bishara and Tibi to run. "This proves the Sages' saying that he who is merciful to the cruel, will in the end be cruel to the merciful," Marzel said.
Defense Minister Mofaz's candidacy was invalidated on the grounds that he did not fulfill the required six-month cooling-off period after he retired as IDF Chief of Staff. Mofaz contends that the six months should be calculated from the date on which he completed active duty, and not from the date he formally retired from the army. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who appointed Mofaz as Defense Minister when the national unity government fell apart over two months ago, has said that he would retain Mofaz as Defense Minister even if he is not a Knesset Member - and has also given his support to Mofaz's appeal.
The Supreme Court will hear the appeals on Tuesday before a panel of eleven judges, and the decisions must be handed down by Thursday. Most petitions are argued before a panel of only three judges, and the larger forum is an indication of the significant public and legal ramifications the court attributes to these matters.
Feiglin, leader of the Likud's Jewish Leadership faction, was disqualified by Elections Committee head Judge Michael Cheshin on the grounds that his conviction for organizing protests against the Rabin government and the Oslo process involved a "crime of moral turpitude." Those convicted of such crimes may not run for public office until seven years have passed. Feiglin has appealed the judge's decision to place his conviction in this category. He and others have said that the judge's decision, and not his own conviction, is a "mark of shame."
The Court will also hear on Tuesday petitions by the two disqualified Arab candidates, MKs Azmi Bishara and Ahmed Tibi. The two were disqualified for having expressed support for anti-Israel violence - Bishara specifically mentioned Hamas and Hizbullah - and for negating the Jewish character of the State of Israel.
Finally, the Elections Committee decision not to accept Hon. Cheshin's recommendation to disqualify Baruch Marzel of Hevron is being challenged by Labor Party MKs Pines and Oshaya. Cheshin, Pines and Oshaya say that Marzel is a member of the illegal Kach party, but Marzel denies this. Currently #2 on Michael Kleiner's Herut Party list, Marzel noted with bitterness today that the Labor MKs are in the forefront of the campaign to allow Bishara and Tibi to run. "This proves the Sages' saying that he who is merciful to the cruel, will in the end be cruel to the merciful," Marzel said.