Balad Party Appoints Sami Abu Shehadeh Leader, Former B'Tselem Chair Orly Noy Joins List

The Balad party has selected Sami Abu Shehadeh as its leader and head of the party list for the upcoming Knesset elections. The list, expected to run jointly with Hadash and Ta'al, also includes Orly Noy, former chairperson of the B'Tselem organization, who secured the fifth spot on the list.

At the conclusion of the party meeting, Abu Shehadeh emphasized the importance of forming a joint list based on national responsibility, avoiding defamation or accusations against other political groups. He stressed that Balad seeks a coalition that allows all political factions to clearly present their positions without claiming exclusive representation of the Arab community or imposing their views on others.

Abu Shehadeh acknowledged known disagreements between Balad and the United Arab List (Ra'am) but criticized statements that undermine efforts to reach common understandings among all parties. He extended an olive branch to Ra'am despite differences but rejected any situation where national positions are silenced while others freely express their views without criticism.