Balad Party Head Withdraws Knesset Candidacy Amid Disqualification Concerns

Sami Abu Shehadeh, the head of the Balad party, has withdrawn his candidacy for the upcoming Knesset elections after the Supreme Court indicated a majority would likely uphold his disqualification. Abu Shehadeh, who was slated to be third on the Joint List, will no longer appear on the ballot. However, Balad stated that he will remain the party's leader and continue his political activities.

The decision came after Supreme Court justices signaled that while they held differing opinions, the "apparent outcome" was to approve the Central Elections Committee's decision to disqualify Abu Shehadeh. His disqualification stemmed from an October 8, 2023, article in which he praised the Hamas attack. Following this indication from the court, Abu Shehadeh announced his withdrawal, ending the legal proceedings without a final ruling on his disqualification.

In parallel, the Supreme Court overturned the Central Elections Committee's decisions to disqualify the entire Joint List, the Ra'am party, and Knesset Member Ofer Cassif, allowing them to compete in the elections.

Balad explained that Abu Shehadeh pursued the legal battle until the final stage, and his withdrawal was a result of realizing a majority of judges would likely approve his disqualification. His removal from the ballot automatically shifts the order of candidates on the Joint List. Hadash leader Dr. Yosef Jabareen remains at the top, followed by Ta'al leader Ahmad Tibi. Candidates originally placed lower on the list will now move up one position. Bachir Awada, initially fifth, will move to fourth; Maha Karkabi-Sabbah, eighth, will move to seventh; and Nahaya Washaahi, tenth, is expected to move to ninth. This advancement means two more women will be placed higher on the list than originally planned.

Despite his absence from the ballot, Balad affirmed that Abu Shehadeh will remain a central figure in the campaign and continue to lead the party.