1.0 link 157207 <![CDATA[Israel Bans Arab Parties From Coming Election]]> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/12/israel-bans-arab-parties-_n_157207.html JERUSALEM &mdash; Israel on Monday banned Arab political parties from running in next month's parliamentary elections, drawing accusations of racism by an Arab lawmaker who said he would challenge the decision in the country's Supreme Court.

The ruling by parliament's Central Election Committee reflected the heightened tensions between Israel's Jewish majority and Arab minority caused by Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip. Arabs have held a series of demonstrations against the offensive.

]]> 2009-01-12T15:11:00-05:00