Israeli Lawmaker Gottlieb Confident Supreme Court Will Disqualify Arab MK

Israeli lawmaker Tally Gottlieb expressed strong confidence on Thursday that the Supreme Court of Justice (High Court of Justice) will disqualify Sami Abu Shehadeh, an Arab Member of Knesset (MK), from running for the Knesset. Gottlieb argued that Abu Shehadeh's statements and explanations since the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel necessitate his disqualification.

Gottlieb sharply criticized Abu Shehadeh during proceedings at the court, attacking his explanations regarding an article he published after the massacre and his stance on defining Israel as a Jewish state. She claimed that Abu Shehadeh's post-October 7th remarks reveal his true attitude towards the events and Israel. She specifically referenced an article she alleged he wrote the day after the attacks, which she said suggested other countries could learn from what "little Gaza" did to Israel.

Gottlieb accused Abu Shehadeh of providing contradictory explanations in court, stating he "stands and lies with a host of false versions." She recounted his shifting statements, including denials of writing the article, questioning its necessity, and later suggesting it was a "voice of the Arabs" and that people should have listened to it. Gottlieb also made a generalization about the Quran, claiming it permits lying to an enemy, and directly linked this to Abu Shehadeh, whom she believes views Israelis as enemies.

The lawmaker also focused on Abu Shehadeh's position that Israel cannot be both a Jewish and a democratic state. Gottlieb asserted that his aim is to dismantle the Jewish character of the state from within the parliament. She extended her criticism to MK Ahmad Tibi, claiming he also does not recognize Israel as a Jewish state, which Gottlieb considers a fundamental requirement for serving in the Knesset.

Gottlieb emphasized that her argument is not about freedom of speech but about the eligibility to serve in the Knesset. She believes that if Abu Shehadeh is disqualified, it would send a significant message, especially given his previous tenure as an MK. Gottlieb also alluded to statements by Ra'am party leader Mansour Abbas regarding recognition of a Jewish state, framing the Abu Shehadeh case as part of a broader debate about the boundaries for Knesset candidates and a test for the judiciary.