Balad Representative Praises Convicted Soldier Killer, Sparking Political Outcry

Hassan Nassarah, recently elected to the Balad party, sparked controversy after eulogizing Maher Younis, an Israeli Arab convicted of murdering IDF soldier Avraham Bromberg. Younis, who served decades in prison for the killing, died last week. In his condolence message, Nassarah described Younis as a "national and humanitarian figure," praising his resilience and sacrifice and saying he left a deep mark on those who knew him.

This is not the first time Balad has expressed support for Younis; the party welcomed him upon his release from prison about two years ago. Following Younis’s death, the Palestinian Authority and other figures, including Zakaria Zubeidi, also visited his family to offer condolences.

When questioned by Channel 14, Nassarah defended his statement by saying that offering condolences is part of Islamic culture and claimed he was unaware of Younis’s conviction for killing an IDF soldier. In response, Knesset member Ariel Kallner announced plans to seek Balad’s disqualification from the upcoming elections, calling the party’s praise of terrorists a "moral disgrace" and a central issue in the legal challenge to be presented to the Central Elections Committee.

The incident has intensified political tensions ahead of the 2026 elections, highlighting the ongoing controversy surrounding Balad’s stance on security and terrorism.