Ben-Gvir Clashes With Feiglin Over Disqualification of Arab MK Candidate

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has publicly criticized Moshe Feiglin regarding the disqualification of Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Balad party, from running in the upcoming Knesset elections. Ben-Gvir stated that Feiglin is "wrong and misleading" on the issue, asserting that anyone who allegedly supported the October 7th Hamas attacks or the killing of IDF soldiers should be barred from the Knesset.

The controversy stems from a decision by the Central Elections Committee to disqualify Abu Shehadeh, a move supported by the committee's chairman, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg. The committee's decision was based on allegations that Abu Shehadeh's statements following the October 7th massacre constituted support for armed struggle against Israel. Balad and Abu Shehadeh himself deny these claims, with Abu Shehadeh stating that his words were misinterpreted and that he does not support violence against Israeli or Palestinian civilians, adding that the full extent of the atrocities was not yet known when he made his statements.

Ben-Gvir's party, Otzma Yehudit, was among those who petitioned for Abu Shehadeh's disqualification. The minister emphasized that the debate is not about a candidate's national origin but about statements and actions that cross a line, calling support for the October 7th attacks or harming IDF soldiers a "red line."

The dispute has become a prominent issue in the current election cycle, drawing support from various political factions. However, Ben-Gvir's criticism of Feiglin introduces an internal rift within the right-wing camp. Feiglin is currently aligned with the Religious Zionism party, and Ben-Gvir's remarks highlight deeper disagreements within the right on how to handle controversial candidates.

The Central Elections Committee's decision is not final, and the matter is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court. The court's ruling could have significant implications for Abu Shehadeh's candidacy and the broader discourse on political free speech limits in Israel.