Internal State Attorney Debates on Disqualifying Balad Leader Revealed

The Supreme Court held a heated discussion with a panel of nine justices regarding the disqualification of Balad party head Sami Abu Shehadeh from running for the Knesset. Legal correspondent Avishai Grinzaig revealed new quotes from closed-door deliberations within the State Attorney's Office, which were aimed at formulating a position for the court hearing.

During these internal discussions, Shlomi Abramson, head of the security division at the State Attorney's Office, stated that Abu Shehadeh's article warranted a criminal investigation, adding, "The grounds for disqualification here are clear. If I had known about this article in real-time, I would have ordered Abu Shehadeh's arrest." Conversely, Alon Altman, Deputy State Attorney for Special Tasks, argued, "There is no clear ground for disqualification. I would not have ordered an investigation."

State Attorney Amit Isman, who had remained silent in an earlier discussion, expressed support for the disqualification. A draft of the State Attorney's Office's position, intended for the Supreme Court, was later circulated by Oner Helman, Director of the High Court of Justice Department. This draft hinted at the intention of the Attorney General and the State Attorney to investigate Abu Shehadeh under the Counter-Terrorism Law.

However, the State Attorney ordered this text to be removed, opting to wait and see the Supreme Court's direction before making a final decision. In a subsequent meeting, Deputy Attorney General Avital Sompolinsky addressed the leak of internal positions, stating, "It is inconceivable that our internal positions are being leaked. One cannot speak so freely."