Eisenkot Party Backs Banning Arab MK From Knesset

The "Yesh Atid! With Eizenkot" party announced on Tuesday its support for disqualifying Sami Abu Shehadeh, head of the National Democratic Alliance party, from running in the 26th Knesset elections. The party cited statements Abu Shehadeh published following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which it deemed violated the Basic Law: Knesset, prohibiting support for armed struggle against Israel.

The controversy centers on an October 8, 2023 article by Abu Shehadeh describing the Hamas attack as a "significant historical event militarily, politically, and strategically," suggesting it could encourage similar actions. Eizenkot's party stated that Abu Shehadeh's subsequent clarifications do not negate his initial remarks, made when hundreds of Israelis were reported killed and taken hostage.

Abu Shehadeh later clarified that he would not have published the article had he known the extent of the atrocities, asserting his opposition to the Hamas attacks. The Attorney General's office stated that evidence presented to the Central Elections Committee suggests Abu Shehadeh expressed support for armed struggle against Israel, primarily based on the October 8 article.

However, the Attorney General's office found no legal basis to disqualify several other parties and candidates, including Religious Zionism, Democrats, the United Arab List, Otzma Yehudit, the Joint List, the National Democratic Alliance, and MK Ofer Cassif.

The Central Elections Committee is scheduled to discuss disqualification requests for several lists and candidates. The legal and political debate focuses on whether Abu Shehadeh's statements meet the legal threshold for disqualification. Abu Shehadeh requested a postponement of the hearing, which Otzma Yehudit opposed, even suggesting a remote session from a hospital if necessary.