Balad Party Leader Slams Election Committee, Calls Judge a 'Settler'

Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Balad party, criticized the Central Elections Committee's decision to disqualify him from running for the Knesset in an interview with Egyptian channel Al-Ghad. Abu Shehadeh asserted that the committee is "political, not professional or legal," and is composed of "racist parties that always incite against us." He questioned whether the Supreme Court would "obey" the committee's "political decision" or rule "professionally."

Abu Shehadeh specifically attacked the committee's chairman, Justice Noam Sohlberg, for supporting his disqualification, a departure from the usual practice of committee chairs remaining neutral. He described Sohlberg as a "settler judge" with right-wing views who has consistently supported disqualification requests. The disqualification request against Abu Shehadeh was filed by the Otzma Yehudit party and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing an article he published on October 8, 2023, the day after the Hamas attack, which he termed an "important historical event militarily, politically, and strategically."

The Central Elections Committee voted 31-4 to disqualify Abu Shehadeh. Justice Sohlberg stated he was breaking with tradition to support the disqualification, finding the case for it clear. Abu Shehadeh claimed that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir "fear the Arab vote," leading to five disqualification requests against two Arab lists. The Supreme Court will now hear appeals against the committee's decision.