Attorney General and State Attorney Back Move to Bar Balad Leader from Knesset Race

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Aisman have submitted a brief to the Supreme Court supporting the Central Elections Committee’s decision to prevent Balad leader Sami Abu Shahhdah from standing in the October 27 Knesset election. They contend that an article he published on October 8, 2023, after the Hamas attack, endorses armed struggle against Israel, satisfying the disqualification criteria in the Basic Law.

The committee had previously voted 31-4 to bar him, and the Supreme Court is set to review the matter on Thursday. Otzma Yehudit lawyers have offered further material, including a social-media video and rally footage showing Abu Shahhdah praising the attackers and blaming Israeli policy. Abu Shahhdah denies the accusations, saying he opposes violence and that he did not grasp the full extent of the October 7 atrocities when he wrote the article.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed the attorneys’ stance, calling the evidence “cannot be ignored.” The court’s ruling will determine whether Abu Shahhdah can run in the upcoming election.