Balad Party Chairman Expresses Regret Over Post-October 7th Article

Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Balad party, has expressed regret over an article he published in Arabic on October 8th, one day after the Hamas attack. He stated that had he been aware of the full extent of the atrocities committed during the writing of the article, he would not have published it. Abu Shehadeh emphasized his clear and firm opposition to the massacre of civilians in the Gaza envelope communities.

Abu Shehadeh made these remarks in response to a disqualification request initiated against him by Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister. He rejected the claims against him, reiterating that his stance against the October 7th atrocities is well-known and has been expressed repeatedly in various forums and languages. He clarified that his opposition to the October 7th events is unequivocal, just as he opposes the harm to civilians and the ongoing destruction in Gaza.

He further asserted that there is no contradiction between condemning the massacre and opposing the war in Gaza. Abu Shehadeh stated that he has never called for violence, supported, or justified the October 7th events. He maintained that his opposition to the occupation and the war, and his support for the rights of the Palestinian people, have never constituted support for violence or armed struggle.

Abu Shehadeh criticized the disqualification request as absurd, pointing to Ben-Gvir's past convictions for incitement to racism and support for a terror organization. He contrasted this with his own lifelong public and non-violent political activism, which he described as a path for freedom, justice, and equality while upholding human life and dignity.