Supreme Court Hears Challenges to Candidate Disqualifications for Knesset Election
Translated & summarized from Alarab by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Supreme Court reviews disqualification of candidates and lists from Knesset elections.
- Central Elections Committee had previously barred Sami Abu Shehadeh and others.
- MK Itamar Ben-Gvir made strong accusations against Abu Shehadeh during the hearing.
- Abu Shehadeh defended his statements, emphasizing his opposition to violence.
- Court's decision will determine the fate of these candidates and lists.
Israel's Supreme Court convened on Thursday to review decisions by the Central Elections Committee to disqualify several candidates and lists from running in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. The court heard arguments regarding the disqualification of Sami Abu Shehadeh, head of the National Democratic Alliance, and MK Ofer Cassif, as well as the Joint List and the United Arab List.
The Central Elections Committee had previously ruled on September 23, 2026, to bar these candidates and lists from participating in the elections, with the Supreme Court now serving as the final arbiter. The court scheduled separate sessions throughout the day, starting with Abu Shehadeh at 10:00 AM, followed by Cassif at 11:30 AM, the Joint List at 2:00 PM, and the United Arab List at 3:30 PM.
Far-right MK Itamar Ben-Gvir attended the hearing for Abu Shehadeh, representing the Otzma Yehudit party alongside MK Tally Gotlieb. During the proceedings, Ben-Gvir asserted, "They want to kill us all," identifying "terrorists and Sami Abu Shehadeh and those who support them" when questioned by the judges. The judges cautioned Ben-Gvir against making broad generalizations, particularly concerning the Arab population.
Justice Khaled Kabub referenced previous statements by Abu Shehadeh condemning the October 7th attacks, countering Ben-Gvir's claims. Ben-Gvir questioned the judges on how they would face soldiers if Abu Shehadeh were elected to the Knesset. The session also saw a debate between the judges and Ben-Gvir's lawyer regarding changes to election law and the Supreme Court's authority, touching upon the broader judicial reform debate.
In his defense, Abu Shehadeh clarified that a statement attributed to him was misrepresented, explaining his intention was to warn against violence and advocate for a political, rather than violent, response. He stated, "All my life I have not supported violence. I grew up in Lod and I know the victims of October 7th." A judge also defended the use of Arabic, stating it is a natural language and not a conspiracy.
Following the appeals, Abu Shehadeh, Cassif, and their legal representatives from Adalah Center are expected to issue statements to the media.
Read the original at AlarabMentioned
