Haaretz Analyst Slams Attorney General for Evading Responsibility on Candidate Disqualification

Haaretz journalist Chen Ma'ayan sharply criticized Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on Tuesday for her office's stance on the disqualification request against Knesset candidate Sami Abu Shahadeh. Ma'ayan argued that the Attorney General and the State Prosecutor should have provided a clear legal opinion on whether Abu Shahadeh should be allowed to run for the Knesset, rather than simply urging the Central Elections Committee to consider the request "with due gravity."

"It is her role, and there is a feeling that she has fled responsibility here," Ma'ayan stated. He contended that a clear conclusion was necessary, not just a call for consideration.

Earlier, the Attorney General and the State Prosecutor submitted their position to the Elections Committee regarding disqualification requests against several parties and candidates. They determined there was no legal basis to disqualify the Religious Zionism party, Identity, Democrats, Ra'am, Otzma Yehudit, the Joint List, and Balad. A similar stance was taken on the request to disqualify MK Ofer Cassif.

However, concerning Abu Shahadeh, the legal officials presented a different position. They stated that the evidence presented suggests he allegedly expressed support for an armed struggle by a terror organization against Israel. Consequently, they concluded that the Elections Committee must seriously consider the disqualification request.

The primary evidence cited is an article Abu Shahadeh published on October 8, 2023. Despite differentiating Abu Shahadeh from other candidates, the Attorney General and State Prosecutor did not recommend a final decision on his candidacy.