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Story summary
- Balad party chair Sami Abou Shehadeh withdrew his candidacy for the Oct. 27 election.
- Central Elections Committee voted to disqualify him because a post supported armed struggle after Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
- At a High Court hearing, he expressed regret and denied supporting armed struggle.
- Justices urged his withdrawal during the hearing.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir praised the withdrawal, condemned the court, and vowed to expel “haters of Israel” from Knesset.