Supporters Protest Jafar Farah's Withdrawal from Election List

Supporters of Jafar Farah expressed anger and dismay on Saturday outside the election hall in Shfaram after his withdrawal from the second candidacy spot on the Front's list. Protesters gathered, holding signs and demanding the list remain as chosen by the public, arguing Farah's removal raises serious questions about the Front's adherence to its constitution and voter will.

Hanan Mahmoud from Haifa stated she had initially boycotted the elections but decided to vote for Farah, whom she has known since their school days. She described him as a well-known figure in Haifa and the North, who has supported the Arab community and helped those in need. Mahmoud called the Front's actions a "farce" and declared she would boycott the elections if Farah was not on the list.

Lawyer Sirin Abu Libben, a member of the Lod municipality, attended to support Farah, stating he represented her voice in public discourse and defended Arab community issues. She urged Farah to leave the party permanently and told the Front to "be ashamed." Younis Shalabi from Iksal deemed the situation "unconstitutional" and a violation of the Front's and party's constitution, asserting that Knesset representatives should be chosen by the general conference, not the party secretariat.

Shalabi further described the events as a "political and moral assassination" of Farah and accused the Front's leadership of "assassinating the constitution and comrades." He also called on the Front's chairman, Dr. Yousef Jabareen, to resign if the party proceeded with what he termed "treachery to the constitution."

Meanwhile, senior Front leader Mohammed Barakeh visited Farah in the hospital and spoke with him. Barakeh told supporters that Farah would issue a statement clarifying his position upon his release from the hospital, addressing the recent developments and the controversy surrounding his withdrawal. Barakeh asserted that the statement announcing Farah's withdrawal, issued the previous day, was done with Farah's "consent and approval."

However, lawyer Nibal Aradat, close to Farah, stated that Farah had "not declared his resignation or withdrawal" and demanded the list remain as chosen by the public. She argued the constitution states the public chooses and dismisses, requesting Farah be given until Sunday to issue his own statement.