Arab Political Party Expresses Concern Over Candidate Allegations

The National Democratic Assembly (NDA), a partner in the joint Arab list for the upcoming Knesset elections, issued a statement on Wednesday addressing allegations against Jaafar Farah, the second candidate on the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality list. The NDA emphasized its commitment to women's rights, freedom, and dignity, condemning all forms of violence and discrimination against them. The party stated that its struggle against occupation, fascism, racism, and national oppression does not negate the importance of addressing internal societal issues, asserting that a society fighting for freedom cannot tolerate injustice within its ranks.

The NDA stressed that defending women's rights is central to its political project and a condition for its credibility. These rights extend beyond public participation and access to education and employment to include the right to a life free from economic, physical, verbal, psychological, and sexual violence and discrimination. The party called for a society that protects victims, holds perpetrators accountable, and does not blame women for rights violations.

The statement highlighted the crucial role of feminist and human rights organizations in defending women's rights and rejected attempts to distort their image or undermine their work. The NDA affirmed victims' right to share their stories without fear of silencing or disbelief, and their right to protection and serious consideration of their complaints. It warned against using the call for justice as a tool to silence victims or exploiting women's issues for political gain.

Expressing concern and responsibility over recent publications of allegations against one of the list's candidates, which contradict the party's values, the NDA stated its confidence in its partners on the list to handle the matter responsibly and take necessary steps. The party called for a responsible political and societal dialogue to establish a unified reference and develop clear, independent, professional, and safe mechanisms for addressing complaints of assault, violence, and harassment, prioritizing victim safety and ensuring fair investigation and accountability.