Israel's National Security Minister Seeks to Disqualify Arab Lawmaker
Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has formally requested the Central Elections Committee to disqualify Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Balad party, from running in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. The request, filed by attorneys Ze'ev Woolf and David Bavli, cites two main grounds under Israeli law: denying Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state, and supporting armed struggle against it.
The core of Ben-Gvir's petition centers on an article Abu Shehadeh published on October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas's deadly attack. In the article, Abu Shehadeh reportedly described the Hamas massacre as a "historically important event militarily, politically, and strategically," and suggested that if Gaza could achieve such an outcome, others could do so more effectively.
The petition further alleges that Abu Shehadeh has made several statements post-attack, calling the battle "decided on October 7," labeling Gaza's resistance an "epic achievement," and referring to the attackers as "resistance fighters." Additional evidence presented includes praise for terrorists, support for convicted terrorists, justification of rioters during the "Guardian of the Walls" operation, and ongoing efforts to undermine the state's Jewish character.
Ben-Gvir's request references past Supreme Court rulings, including one by former Chief Justice Esther Hayut regarding Balad's legislative proposals and another by former Chief Justice Aharon Barak concerning the disqualification of candidates who legitimize armed struggle. The petition argues that the evidence constitutes the "clear and unequivocal mass" required by law, and that following the October 7 events, the disqualification clause can no longer be interpreted as dormant.
In response to filing the request, Minister Ben-Gvir stated, "Until today, the Supreme Court has approved one after another all the supporters of terrorism who sought to run in the Knesset elections, contrary to the letter of the law. The time has come for a systemic and conceptual change. We will put an end to the phenomenon of supporters of terrorism taking over the Knesset. Abu Shehadeh is invited to join his friend Azmi Bishara."
