Jerusalem:Israel's Supreme Court has overturned a decision by the Central Elections Committee that barred two Arab electoral lists from participating in the October 27 Knesset election.

According to Anadolu Agency, the court's ruling followed appeals from the Joint List, led by Yusuf Jabareen, the United Arab List, led by Mansour Abbas, and Joint List lawmaker Ofer Cassif. Channel 12 reported that the court ruled by a majority in favor of Cassif's eligibility to run.

Moreover, the judges unanimously agreed to allow both the United Arab List and the Joint List to participate in the upcoming election. This decision by Israel's highest judicial body enables these Arab lists to contest the election.

In a separate development, Sami Abu Shehadeh, a candidate on the Joint List and leader of the National Democratic Assembly party, withdrew his candidacy after the Supreme Court advised him to do so, citing a majority of judges' preference for his disqualification.

Arab citizens constitute approximately 20% of Israel's population of 10 million. Opinion polls suggest that Arab lawmakers could secure between 12 and 14 seats in the 120-member Knesset.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, along with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power party and other right-wing groups, had initially submitted requests to disqualify the Arab lists to the Central Elections Committee, which had approved these requests in September.