High Court supports disqualification of BALAD party leader from elections

Israel's Supreme Court unanimously upheld the Central Elections Committee's decision to disqualify Sami Abu Shahadeh, leader of the Arab party BALAD, from the Knesset elections. The basis was an article he wrote on October 8, 2023, in which he expressed sympathy for the actions of Hamas terrorists. Justice Yitzhak Amit called Abu Shahadeh's statements "outrageous and disgusting."

Israel's Supreme Court on Thursday, October 1, unanimously upheld the Central Elections Committee's decision to disqualify Sami Abu Shahadeh, leader of the Arab party BALAD, from the Knesset elections. The basis was an article published by Abu Shahadeh on October 8, 2023, the day after the Hamas attack on Israel, in which he expressed sympathy for the actions of the terrorists. Justice Alex Stein stated that the article clearly shows Abu Shahadeh supports terror and noted that his later explanations are "empty talk." Stein also pointed out that Abu Shahadeh could not produce a single publication in English where he called Hamas a terrorist organization. Government legal advisor's attorney Yonatan Berman supported the disqualification. Abu Shahadeh's attorney Hassan Jabarin argued that his client's words do not constitute support for terror. Abu Shahadeh himself stated that one paragraph was written incorrectly and that he opposes violence. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who filed the petition for disqualification, said the moment for disqualification has arrived. Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit, summing up, called Abu Shahadeh's statements "outrageous and disgusting" and recommended he withdraw his candidacy.