After the storm in the High Court: Sami Abu Shahada submitted his resignation to Sohlberg

Balad chairman Sami Abu Shahada submitted his official resignation from the Central Elections Committee following the recommendation of Supreme Court justices, and will not run in the upcoming elections. The move came after a heated hearing in which the justices recommended he step down voluntarily before an official ruling. The Otzma Yehudit party had sought to disqualify him on grounds of supporting terrorism.

Balad chairman Sami Abu Shahada submitted his official resignation from the Central Elections Committee today (Friday), following the recommendation of Supreme Court justices. The dramatic move ended a legal and political saga that began when the Otzma Yehudit party sought to disqualify Abu Shahada and the Joint List from running in the elections, on grounds of open support for terrorism after the events of October 7. Elections Committee chairman, Justice Noam Sohlberg, accepted the request and disqualified their candidacy, passing the final decision to the High Court. In the heated hearing, the justices recommended that Abu Shahada step down voluntarily before a ruling that would officially disqualify him – a recommendation he adopted. Abu Shahada signed the resignation document before the committee's legal advisor, and the resignation will take effect immediately if the court rejects the list's appeal. The development drew sharp criticism from right-wing figures, who argued that the justices' proposal was an attempt to avoid an uncompromising ruling.