Balad Chair Sami Abou Shehadeh Withdraws from October 27 Election

Sami Abou Shehadeh, the chair of the Arab nationalist Balad party, announced that he is ending his run for the upcoming Knesset election scheduled for October 27. The party’s statement emphasized that his withdrawal does not end his personal political struggle nor the broader mission of Balad, which continues to pursue Arabic representation and to challenge the current government led by Benjamin Netanyahu and Itamar Ben Gvir.

Times of Israel

The Central Elections Committee (CEC), controlled by the governing coalition, voted last month to disqualify Abou Shehadeh on the basis of an article he published the day after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack. The Attorney General argued that the piece amounted to support for armed struggle against Israel. The CEC’s decision, which received broad backing across the political spectrum, must be confirmed by the Supreme Court to take effect. The committee is chaired by a Supreme Court justice but is composed mainly of Knesset faction representatives, with the coalition holding a majority. The justices hearing the case urged Abou Shehadeh to withdraw, indicating that a majority of the nine-justice panel would likely uphold the disqualification.

Times of Israel

Balad’s statement framed the withdrawal as a tactical step while reaffirming the party’s ongoing agenda. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who personally argued the case before the court, praised the development and criticized the judiciary for not delivering a final ruling, vowing to expel “haters of Israel” from the Knesset. The Supreme Court justices, in a unanimous hearing, recommended that Abou Shehadeh step aside, signaling that the disqualification would probably stand.

Times of Israel

Abou Shehadeh’s exit removes a prominent Arab nationalist figure from the ballot, potentially weakening the Joint List’s ability to influence the election outcome. The move also underscores the heightened scrutiny of Arab parties and candidates amid ongoing security concerns, raising questions about the balance between electoral participation and legal standards for disqualification.

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• October 7, 2023: Hamas-led attack; Abou Shehadeh publishes the contested article the following day.

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• Last month (relative to the hearing): CEC votes to disqualify Abou Shehadeh.

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• Recent High Court hearing: Justices urge withdrawal; majority likely to uphold ban.

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• October 27 (scheduled): National election for which Abou Shehadeh had been a candidate.

Times of Israel