Israel's Attorney General Seeks Knesset Ban for Balad Chairman

Israel's Attorney General and the State Prosecutor have asked the Supreme Court to disqualify Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Balad party, from running for the Knesset. The legal opinion cites his alleged support for an armed struggle by a terror organization against Israel.

Central to the legal position is an article Abu Shehadeh published the day after the Hamas attack, while it was ongoing. The Attorney General and State Prosecutor contend the article expresses support for Hamas's armed struggle against Israel, and that its timing and content constitute exceptional and severe circumstances.

They also argue that Abu Shehadeh's subsequent explanations for his statements in the article, as well as other evidence presented against him, do not sufficiently address the core allegations. The disqualification is based on a Basic Law provision that allows for the barring of candidates or lists for supporting an armed struggle by an enemy state or terror organization against Israel.

This move follows a decision by the Central Elections Committee, which voted 30-4 to disqualify Abu Shehadeh on all grounds raised against him, following a request by the Otzma Yehudit party. The Supreme Court will now make the final determination.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised the Attorney General's stance, stating that evidence presented by Otzma Yehudit against Abu Shehadeh led to the legal position. Ben-Gvir noted that attorney David Bavli, ranked 11th on the Otzma Yehudit list, compiled the materials for the request. Otzma Yehudit stated it will continue to act against candidates it claims support terror or act against Israel.