Joint List Slams Potential Disqualification of Arab Leader

The Joint List has issued a sharp response after the Supreme Court indicated a majority favors disqualifying Balad Chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh from running in the upcoming Knesset elections. The court presented Abu Shehadeh with an offer to withdraw his candidacy to avoid a disqualification ruling. In response, the Joint List stated, "This is the heart of the matter: preventing an Arab political leader from running in the elections and harming our public's right to choose its representatives." They further asserted that the court's decision is "effectively an actual disqualification, made following a campaign of incitement and political persecution led by the fascist and Kahanist right, joined by leaders of the Zionist opposition parties."

The Joint List emphasized that there is "no legal justification" for Abu Shehadeh's disqualification, arguing that this stance "contradicts the criteria the court itself set in previous disqualification cases." The group vowed that their "answer to attempts to oust us and silence our voice will be a massive turnout at the ballot boxes on October 27th," adding, "Our public's voice is stronger than disqualification. Our public's voice will decide the upcoming elections."

Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit had earlier announced that a majority of justices agreed that statements made by the candidate were "painful, outrageous, and disgusting." The court's decision comes amid heated exchanges, with MK Itamar Ben-Gvir reportedly calling Abu Shehadeh "a piece of a terrorist," while MKs Jabarin and Kseif responded by calling Ben-Gvir "a small, filthy Nazi."