Israeli supreme court disqualifies far-right leader

Israel's Supreme Court has disqualified the leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, Michael Ben-Ari, from next month's elections.

Reversing the decisions of Israel's elections committee earlier this month, the court ruled on Sunday to bar Ben-Ari, in an 8-1 vote.

Ben-Ari has faced criticism over his comments about Israeli Arabs. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has said they amount to "incitement to racism".

The court also reinstated Israeli Arab parties previously banned from contesting the 9 April poll.

They had been barred from standing for their critical remarks about the state of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces.

Ahead of the elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had forged an alliance with several far-right parties, including Jewish Power, to try to shore up support.

Ben-Ari condemned the ruling, according to local media. "There is a legal junta that seeks to take over our lives. It's not a democracy," he was quoted as saying by the Haaretz.

Other members of Jewish Power remain eligible to run.

Jewish Power's leaders are successors of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, who advocated expelling Arabs from Israel and creating a Jewish theocracy.

The Supreme Court rulings were widely expected and unlikely to shake Netanyahu's efforts to craft a rightist alliance that might secure him a record fifth term.

The court upheld the candidacy of Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right lawyer and fellow leader of Jewish Power.

According to Jewish Power, Ben-Ari's disqualification marks the first time a candidate approved by the committee has been banned from standing in elections.

All governments in Israel are coalitions because the country's system of proportional representation makes it unlikely for single parties to be able to govern alone.

A poll aired by public broadcaster Kan on Sunday put Likud narrowly in the lead to form the next coalition government with a projected 31 of parliament's 120 seats against 30 for Gantz's Blue and White party.

If re-elected, Netanyahu will become Israel's longest-serving premier in July.