Balad Party Chairman Defends Post-Oct 7 Remarks Amid Disqualification Hearing

The Central Elections Committee convened on Wednesday to discuss petitions seeking to disqualify Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Balad party, from running in the upcoming Knesset elections. The hearing, led by Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and MK Tali Gottlieb, saw Abu Shehadeh participate remotely, citing an injury.

Minister Ben-Gvir strongly criticized Abu Shehadeh, accusing him and state systems of enabling "terror supporters" within the Knesset. He questioned why his party, Otzma Yehudit, had to uncover Abu Shehadeh's controversial article, arguing the legal advisor should have acted. Ben-Gvir urged the committee to disqualify Abu Shehadeh unanimously, warning against repeating mistakes like those made with former MK Azmi Bishara.

During the hearing, Abu Shehadeh asserted he had never called for violence or supported armed struggle, stating such actions were against his principles, "unless it is a historical event." He also addressed a photo of militants killed by Israeli forces in Nablus, saying he opposed assassination policies and did not know the individuals involved. Responding to criticism, he stated, "The article was written on October 7, but I did not really know the extent of the atrocities. I know friends who were killed, and it hurt me. I understand today that the article as worded should not have been published, not even after October 7."

Ben-Gvir countered Abu Shehadeh's defense, stating, "Even if you knew ten percent, so what?" He accused Abu Shehadeh of implying that the murder and rape of Israeli soldiers and female observers were acceptable. Abu Shehadeh's lawyer argued that his client's failure to condemn Hamas was irrelevant, comparing it to his client not condemning his own mother.

The legal proceedings stem from several statements made by Abu Shehadeh after the October 7 Hamas attacks. In an interview, he dismissed claims that the attack aimed to derail peace talks, stating it showed disrespect to Palestinians. He also described the events as a "law of physics," where escalating pressure leads to an explosion, and suggested that those surprised by the Palestinians' restraint in the face of humiliation should have been more surprised.