Ben-Gvir Vows Hospital Interrogation for Arab Lawmaker Seeking Hearing Delay

Otzma Yehudit party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Balad party, is "shaking" and seeking to delay his Knesset disqualification hearing due to an alleged injury. Ben-Gvir vowed that if necessary, Abu Shehadeh would be investigated even in a hospital setting.

Balad had requested the hearing be postponed, citing Abu Shehadeh's injury. Otzma Yehudit responded that Abu Shehadeh knows these are the final days for the judge to rule on such cases and is "playing games." The party emphasized that the hearing's importance necessitates proceeding, even if it means questioning Abu Shehadeh at a hospital.

Balad's request to disqualify Abu Shehadeh stems from his alleged failure to condemn the October 7th Hamas attacks. Abu Shehadeh, however, has clarified that he unequivocally condemns the atrocities and stated that had he been aware of the full extent of the massacre when he wrote an article on October 8th, he would not have published it.

Abu Shehadeh previously asserted his consistent stance against violence, stating, "My human, clear, and decisive position against the crimes committed in the Gaza envelope is well known. Since October 7th, I have expressed it time and again in articles, interviews, and speeches in Arabic, Hebrew, and English." He added, "My position was and still is an unequivocal opposition to harming people, Palestinians and Israelis alike. I oppose the crimes and massacres committed on October 7th against the residents of the Gaza envelope, just as I oppose the harm to civilians and the crimes committed since against the residents of the Gaza Strip."