Israeli Arab Politician Withdraws Knesset Candidacy After Supreme Court Suggestion
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Sami Abu Shahadeh withdrew from the Knesset race after Supreme Court President Amit's suggestion.
- Amit indicated a majority of justices likely would have disqualified Abu Shahadeh.
- The disqualification request stemmed from an article praising the Hamas attack.
- Government ministers criticized the court for allowing withdrawal without a ruling.
- Abu Shahadeh argued his life's work was in human rights.
Sami Abu Shahadeh, chairman of the Balad party and third on the Joint List, has withdrawn his candidacy for the 26th Knesset. The decision followed a Supreme Court hearing where President Yitzhak Amit suggested Abu Shahadeh withdraw to avoid a judicial ruling on a disqualification request against him. Amit indicated that a majority of justices appeared poised to disqualify Abu Shahadeh, advising him to consider his options. Balad and the Joint List announced his withdrawal after the hearing.
The disqualification request, initially filed with the Central Elections Committee by Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, cited an October 8, 2023, article by Abu Shahadeh. In the article, he described the Hamas attack as a "historically important event militarily, politically, and strategically," adding that "if little, besieged Gaza could do this, others can do it more effectively and simply." The Attorney General and State Prosecutor supported his disqualification, arguing his remarks constituted support for armed struggle against Israel.
During the Supreme Court session, which also addressed disqualification requests for the Joint List, Ra'am party, and MK Ofer Cassif, Abu Shahadeh pleaded to continue his political activity, stating, "My entire life I have dealt with human rights, I ask you to allow me to continue." Justice Alex Stein questioned Abu Shahadeh about whether he had ever called Hamas a "terrorist organization" in his English articles, to which Abu Shahadeh replied, "There is no such article."
President Amit's proposal for withdrawal without a formal ruling drew sharp criticism from government ministers. Bצלal Smotrich of the Religious Zionism party accused Amit of being unwilling or unable to issue a ruling disqualifying "terror supporters." Minister Ben-Gvir welcomed the withdrawal but expressed regret that the court did not issue a formal judgment. In contrast, Gadi Eisenkot of Yesh Atid sarcastically commented on the Likud party's "sorrow" over the disqualification of a "true partner in the Machl-Balad alliance."
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