Balad Party Chairman Regrets October 8th Article Amidst Disqualification Bid

Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Balad party, has expressed regret over an article he published on October 8th, the day after the Hamas attacks, stating that had he known about the atrocities, he would not have published it. This statement comes as his party faces a disqualification request from the far-right Otzma Yehudit party and its leader, Itamar Ben-Gvir, from running in the upcoming elections.

Abu Shehadeh addressed the controversy surrounding his article for the first time, asserting that he has never called for violence nor supported the events of October 7th. He stated, "I never called for violence and I did not support the events of October 7th." The Balad chairman's remarks were made in response to the disqualification petition filed against him and his party.

Otzma Yehudit and Ben-Gvir are seeking to disqualify Balad, arguing that the party's platform and Abu Shehadeh's past statements are anti-Zionist and incite racism. The Central Elections Committee is expected to review these petitions. The political maneuvering highlights the deep divisions and tensions within Israeli politics, particularly concerning parties perceived as challenging the state's core identity.