Ben-Gvir Party Demands Criminal Probe Into Arab MK's Remarks

The "Otzma Yehudit" party, led by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has formally requested that the government's legal advisor and the state prosecutor initiate a criminal investigation against Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Arab party "Balad." The party alleges that Shehadeh's actions may constitute incitement to terrorism, violent acts, and ties to terrorist organizations.

The demand follows closely after the legal advisor and state prosecutor submitted their position to the Supreme Court, supporting the Central Elections Committee's decision to disqualify Shehadeh from running in Knesset elections. The prosecution cited a publication by Shehadeh on October 8, 2023, which they argue expresses support for Hamas's actions against Israel and warrants his disqualification.

"Otzma Yehudit" argues that if the evidence is sufficient for electoral disqualification, it should also be grounds for a criminal investigation. Their submission includes materials gathered during the appeals process, such as Shehadeh's October 8th characterization of the attack as a "large-scale strategic event" and an October 9th interview where he reportedly made approving remarks about actions from Gaza. The party's lawyers are pushing for an urgent investigation into these and past statements.

Legal experts, however, note a distinction between the criteria for electoral disqualification under Basic Law: The Knesset and the burden of proof required for criminal prosecution. The prosecution will need to assess the evidence accordingly. Shehadeh himself has previously dismissed the prosecution's stance as an attempt to create artificial grounds for his removal from the electoral process.