Ben Gvir's 'bra bra' calls and Abu Shahada's resignation roil election day

Balad chairman quits after court recommendation as minister floods phones with Arabic taunts.

Ben Gvir's 'bra bra' calls and Abu Shahada's resignation roil election day — Balad chairman Sami Abu Shahada submitted his official resignation from the Central Elections Committee today (Friday), following the recommendation of Supreme Court justices.[^1] Hours earlier, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir distributed millions of automated phone calls shouting "bra bra" in Arabic to all Israeli citizens, celebrating the disqualification of Abu Shahada from running for the Knesset.[^2] The coordinated sequence — a resignation that preempted a court ruling, and a ministerial mass-call campaign — turned the election calendar into a theater of political performance. Ben Gvir's phone calls drew immediate backlash. Israel Hayom reported a storm of criticism, with opponents questioning how a cabinet minister could use state resources for what they called a taunting political stunt.[^3] The move also diverted attention from other news: earlier today, Netanyahu revealed new details about the attempted attack on the Fly Dubai flight, stating the attacker "underwent Islamist radicalization" and praising passengers as "heroes who prevented a catastrophe on the scale of 9/11."[^4] He hinted at an external mission, saying "whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price."[^4] Meanwhile, the campaign trail saw stranger moments. Yiska Haimov, sister of Shin Bet chief David Zini and a Noam for Israel candidate, was photographed yesterday (Thursday) with right-wing activist Mordechai David, who said in a video: "I am here with the sister of Shin Bet chief David Zini, the heroine here. We are waiting for Ahmad Tibi to block him. In memory of Arafat we are blocking him here."[^5] The incident underscores how family ties to security chiefs are being weaponized in campaign messaging, even as 67% of Israelis fear a security event on the scale of October 7, according to a Maariv poll published on October 2, 2026.[^6] Does the spectacle of disqualifications and automated calls distract from the substantive question — whether the right to be elected can coexist with protecting state values after October 7? IDF targets Hamas commanders as US military posture shifts toward Iran — T