Balad chairman asked to postpone his disqualification hearing – this is the bizarre reason

Balad chairman Sami Abu Shahadeh asked to postpone the hearing on his disqualification from running for the 26th Knesset, claiming he was injured this morning. Otzma Yehudit claims he is "shaking" and trying to buy time. Minister Ben Gvir filed a formal request to disqualify him over statements made after October 7.

Balad chairman Sami Abu Shahadeh asked to postpone the hearing on his disqualification from running for the 26th Knesset, claiming he was "injured" this morning. Otzma Yehudit rejected the explanation in a sharp attack: "Minister Ben Gvir believes Abu Shahadeh is shaking and therefore wants to postpone the hearing. If necessary, we will ask to investigate him and hold the proceedings, even in the hospital." The attempt to buy time comes against the backdrop of a formal request submitted by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to the Central Elections Committee to disqualify him entirely. The request is based on Article 7A of Basic Law: The Knesset, and centers on an article published by Abu Shahadeh on October 8, 2023, a day after the October 7 massacre, in which he called the terrorist attack "an important historical event from a military, political, and strategic perspective" and praised the Hamas terrorists. Ben Gvir clarified: "Until today, the Supreme Court has approved one after another all supporters of terrorism. The time has come for a systemic and conceptual change."