Haaretz:
The High Court of Justice on Wednesday revoked a government decision to exclude Israeli-Arab parties from contenting in the national elections next month.
The court issued its decision in response to a petition submitted by Arab politicians against the ban. A spokesman for the Courts Administration said judges overturned the ban in an unanimous vote Wednesday.
The decision was expected and is quite welcome. What does it mean?
It means what it says: Balad and the United Arab List-Ta'al, the two major Arab parties, can participate in the election next month.
When I posted a diary on the decision of the Central Elections Committee to ban the parties, I was accused of fanning the flames of hatred. I was told that this was not a big deal, as the high court would surely reverse the decision. I was told I would never write a diary on the inevitable reversal. This diary should at least answer that last charge.
But what does it mean in the larger picture? Does the High Court's decision, welcome as it is, erase the attempt by the Central Elections Committee to undermine the legitimacy of these parties and their right to participate fully in Israeli democracy? I don't think so. A smear campaign is not undone by a court decision.