Far-Right Activist Confronts Disqualified Arab Lawmaker in Jaffa

Viral right-wing activist Mordechai David posted a video on social media 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 disqualified by a vote of 31 to 4, is seen in the video looking at David with a slight smile and offering no response. David added a caption to the video stating, "Sami Abu Shehadeh swallowed his tongue, he's a hero in the studios."

The disqualification request against Abu Shehadeh was filed by the Otzma Yehudit party and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. It cited, among other things, an article Abu Shehadeh published on October 8, 2023, the day after the October 7th Hamas attack, in which he described the attack as a "historically important event militarily, politically, and strategically." The Central Elections Committee chairman, Judge Solberg, supported the disqualification, stating it was a rare but clear case. Several opposition parties, including those led by Yair Golan, Gadi Eisenkot, and Avigdor Lieberman, announced their support for the disqualification.

In an interview with the Egyptian channel Al-Ghad, Abu Shehadeh commented on the disqualification, calling the Central Elections Committee a "political committee, not professional or legal." He stated that the committee is composed of parties that "always incite against us" and that the decision was expected. Abu Shehadeh believes that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister 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 committee's ruling.