Legal Advisor Urges Supreme Court to Disqualify Arab MK Sami Abed Al-Rahman

Israel's Attorney General and Legal Advisor to the Government has recommended that the Supreme Court uphold the Central Elections Committee's decision to disqualify Sami Abed Al-Rahman, head of the Balad party, from running for the Knesset. The recommendation, submitted to the court on Tuesday, cites Abed Al-Rahman's alleged support for armed struggle against Israel, including during the October 7th Hamas attack.

The legal position states that Abed Al-Rahman's candidacy should be disqualified due to his backing of armed conflict against Israel, particularly in the context of the October 7th events, which occurred at a "highly sensitive and critical time." The filing points to an article Abed Al-Rahman published on October 8, 2023, the day after the attack, which it claims reflects support for Hamas's armed struggle against Israel. The legal advisors asserted that his subsequent explanations for the article and other evidence were insufficient and did not address the core accusations.

Further grounds for disqualification include a video Abed Al-Rahman posted on October 10, 2023, three days after the Hamas assault. According to Channel 12 News, in this video, he did not name Hamas as responsible for the attack nor condemn the massacre. Instead, he accused Israel of inciting against Gaza residents and of killing Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear appeals on the Central Elections Committee's decisions regarding the disqualification of lists and candidates, including Abed Al-Rahman, on Thursday. The initial petition to disqualify Abed Al-Rahman was filed by Itamar Ben-Gvir and the Otzma Yehudit party.