Supreme Court orders new elections in Nazareth; Beit Shemesh may be on deck

New municipal elections in Nazareth following allegations of fraud and irregularities in a super close finish.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
Gavel from Reuters 370 (photo credit: REUTERS/Chip East)
Gavel from Reuters 370
(photo credit: REUTERS/Chip East)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered new municipal elections for Nazareth and nullified the October results, following allegations of fraud and irregularities in a super close finish.
The decision was handed down by Supreme Court President Asher D. Grunis, Justice Yitzhak Amit and Justice Dafna Barak-Erez.
 In January, Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein had taken the position that the courts should nullify the October 2013 municipal election results and order a revote.
Weinstein made his request after lower court decisions were expected to overturn the original results in favor of candidate Ali Salaam to crown incumbent Ramiz Jaraisi (who lost the election prior to the initial court intervention) as mayor.
The attorney-general said that irregularities at 11 polling stations went to the foundation of the election’s legitimacy and required a completely new vote, particularly with a mere winning margin of between 7-9 votes.
The court's decision may foreshadow a similar final ruling in the controversial Beit Shemesh election.