Lieberman Calls to Ban Balad Party; Likud Responds with Jab

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, called on Friday to outlaw the Balad party, stating that its representatives in the Knesset constitute "representation of a terror organization in the Israeli Knesset." Lieberman's sharp remarks came in response to Balad's announcement that its chairman, Sami Abu Shehadeh, would continue to lead the movement and its political and electoral mechanisms, even after withdrawing his candidacy for the 26th Knesset just before the Supreme Court could disqualify him. The Supreme Court had unanimously approved the Joint List, which includes Balad, to run in the upcoming elections, while also hinting that Abu Shehadeh's statements were objectionable, prompting his withdrawal.

The Likud party responded to Lieberman's call with a terse, two-word retort: "Yes, uh-huh." The ruling party accompanied its response with a photo of Hadash chairman Ayman Odeh alongside Lieberman, aiming to remind Lieberman of his past political associations. Specifically, the Likud referenced Lieberman's statement in 2021, when he was Finance Minister, that he would be willing to "unashamedly recruit Knesset members from the Joint List" to pass the state budget.

The exchange highlights the renewed political friction surrounding the legitimacy of Arab party representatives in the Knesset, particularly following the Supreme Court's decision to allow the Joint List to compete while Abu Shehadeh himself remains outside the Knesset as an external party leader.