Democrats to Back Disqualification of Balad Chairman Over Remarks

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, announced that his party will vote to disqualify Sami Abu Shehadeh, the chairman of the Balad party, from running in the upcoming elections. The decision comes in response to statements made by Abu Shehadeh shortly after the October 7th Hamas attacks.

Golan stated that Abu Shehadeh's words, uttered just one day after the attacks, were severe. He emphasized that such rhetoric is unacceptable for anyone advocating for Jewish-Arab partnership. Golan defined calls for or legitimization of armed struggle and harm to civilians, whether Jewish or Arab, as crossing a red line.

He further noted that the Attorney General and the State Attorney's Office have also clarified this position. The ultimate decision on whether Abu Shehadeh's statements constitute grounds for disqualification will be properly deliberated by the Supreme Court.