Balad Party Leader Quits Knesset Race After Supreme Court Suggestion

Sami Abu Shehadeh, the head of the Balad party, announced Thursday night that he will withdraw from the race for the 26th Knesset, accepting a suggestion from Supreme Court justices. His decision preempts a court ruling on his disqualification.

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir praised Abu Shehadeh's withdrawal, stating, "We promised, we delivered! I am happy that the struggle we led led to the Knesset's removal of Sami Abu Shehadeh, after the things he wrote and supported Hamas the day after October 7th." Ben-Gvir also expressed regret that the Supreme Court allowed him to withdraw without a formal ruling, adding that "Otzma Yehudit will continue to fight with all its might against supporters of terror and haters of Israel who seek to enter the Knesset. Abu Shehadeh will see the next Knesset from Channel 99. Goodbye Abu Shehadeh!"

The Supreme Court had convened a panel of nine justices to hear appeals regarding four disqualifications made by the Central Elections Committee. These included MK Ofer Cassif, Abu Shehadeh, and the Ra'am and Joint List parties. During the hearing for Abu Shehadeh, he was advised to reconsider his candidacy due to a likely majority vote for his disqualification.

The petition to disqualify Abu Shehadeh, filed by Otzma Yehudit, passed the committee with a significant majority of 31 to 4. In an unusual move, the committee's chairman, Judge Noam Sohlberg, voted in favor of disqualification, breaking with a 20-year tradition of committee chairs remaining neutral.

Ra'am was disqualified by an 18-to-5 vote, followed by the disqualification of the Joint List. Petitions to disqualify Otzma Yehudit (in a close vote) and the Democrats list were rejected.