Professor Slams Judges Over Knesset Candidate Disqualification Case

Professor Yuval Albeshan sharply criticized the judges presiding over the case of Sami Abu Shehadeh on Thursday, accusing them of suggesting Abu Shehadeh withdraw from the election. Albeshan described the suggestion as "a sin upon a sin" and argued there is no legal basis to disqualify Abu Shehadeh, stating that even the hearing itself seemed to confirm this. He claimed the offer was an attempt to avoid issuing a written ruling that would expose what he called "their judicial nakedness."

Albeshan drew a parallel to the Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, who he alleged issued two contradictory legal opinions within a week without any change in circumstances. He suggested this shift occurred after Yair Golan and the Democrats party supported the disqualification, driven by a fear of appearing "more left than left."

Regarding the hearing, Albeshan noted that attorney Berman from the High Court petitions department attempted to explain the change in position and argued it did not constitute a rule change. Albeshan dismissed these arguments as "embarrassing," believing the judges understood that their reasoning would not hold up in a written judgment. "When you get used to doing politics and not law, there is no bottom," he wrote, referencing his earlier statements on the matter.

Albeshan expressed hope that Abu Shehadeh would not withdraw, so that the court would be compelled to provide a legal justification for its decision.