Saglovich on Abu Shahada: "He crossed the line and should not run"

Yoav Saglovich, a Ra'am candidate for the Knesset, said in an interview that Balad chairman Sami Abu Shahada crossed the line and should not run in the elections. Alongside this, Saglovich expressed principled reservations about the disqualification process but determined that based on Abu Shahada's statements, he should not be allowed to run. The Central Elections Committee disqualified Abu Shahada's candidacy on two grounds.

Yoav Saglovich, a Ra'am candidate for the Knesset, said in an interview on Nadav Peri's podcast that Balad chairman Sami Abu Shahada crossed the line and should not run in the upcoming elections. Saglovich expressed principled reservations about the disqualification process, stating that in principle he does not like disqualifications and that the matter should go directly to the Supreme Court. However, he determined that based on what Abu Shahada said, he should not run. The Central Elections Committee disqualified Abu Shahada's candidacy for the 26th Knesset last week by a vote of 30 in favor versus four against, on two grounds: denial of Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state and support for armed struggle by an enemy state or terrorist organization against Israel. The disqualification came in the wake of an article Abu Shahada published on October 8, 2023, referring to the October 7 attack. The Attorney General determined that the article constitutes substantial evidence of support for armed struggle but left the decision to the committee. Saglovich's statement joins a series of political figures who supported the disqualification, including Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Gadi Eisenkot.