Far-Right Activist Confronts Banned Arab Lawmaker in Jaffa

Viral right-wing activist Mordechai David released a video showing him confronting Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Balad party, in Jaffa. The confrontation occurred shortly after the Central Elections Committee disqualified Abu Shehadeh from running for the Knesset. In the video, David is heard telling Abu Shehadeh, "Sami Abu Shehadeh is running away here in Jaffa. In Jaffa, you are banned, you are banned in memory of Bin Laden." Abu Shehadeh, who was seen in the video with a slight smile, did not respond.

David added a caption to the video, stating, "Sami Abu Shehadeh swallowed his tongue, he's a hero in the studios." The Central Elections Committee disqualified Abu Shehadeh on Wednesday by a vote of 31 to 4. Committee Chairman Justice Solberg supported the disqualification, stating it was a rare but clear case. The disqualification request was filed by Otzma Yehudit and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing an article Abu Shehadeh published on October 8, 2023, the day after the Hamas attack, in which he described the attack as a "historically important event militarily, politically, and strategically."

Several opposition parties and figures, including Yair Golan, Gadi Eisenkot, and Avigdor Lieberman, had announced their support for the disqualification request prior to the committee's hearing. In an interview with the Egyptian channel Al-Ghad, Abu Shehadeh called the Central Elections Committee a "political committee, not professional or legal," composed of "racist parties that always incite against us." He questioned whether the Supreme Court would "obey" the political decision or rule professionally. Abu Shehadeh also claimed that Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir "fear the Arab voice," leading to five disqualification requests against two Arab lists.

The final decision on Abu Shehadeh's candidacy will be made by the Supreme Court, which will hear an appeal against the Central Elections Committee's ruling.