Ben Gvir and Arab Lawmakers Clash Violently at Supreme Court

A heated confrontation erupted outside the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem on Thursday between National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Arab lawmakers Ahmed Tibi and Ofer Cassif, ahead of a critical hearing on disqualifying Cassif and Balad party chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh from running in the upcoming Knesset elections.

As Ben Gvir approached the courtroom, he encountered Tibi, Cassif, and former MK Yousef Jabareen. Ben Gvir aggressively accused them of being "the front line of terror in the Knesset" and threatened to "throw you out of the Knesset." Tibi retorted in Arabic, "Every dog will have its day," while Cassif and Jabareen called Ben Gvir a "small, dirty Nazi."

The hearing itself concerns petitions against the Central Elections Committee's decision to disqualify Cassif and Abu Shehadeh from the 26th Knesset elections. Ben Gvir, representing Otzma Yehudit and acting as an attorney, argued before the nine-judge panel, including Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit, that Abu Shehadeh should be disqualified. Ben Gvir presented himself as the voice of the October 7th victims, stating, "Their blood is furious, and I will be their mouth."

Central to the case against Abu Shehadeh is an article he published on October 8, 2023, calling Hamas's attack an "important historical event militarily and politically," and a speech where he stated, "They are eating our heads about October 7th," linking the actions to the Gaza blockade. The Attorney General's representative unusually supported Abu Shehadeh's disqualification, citing a consistent pattern of support for armed struggle, while opposing the disqualification of Cassif and other Arab parties.

Justice Alex Stein sharply criticized Abu Shehadeh, stating his writings clearly "encourage terror of the October 7th type." Abu Shehadeh and his representatives claim political persecution aimed at silencing Arab representation and downplay the severity of his statements. The Supreme Court's decision, with an expanded panel and the Attorney General's stance, could set a significant legal and political precedent.