Arab Israeli candidate drops out of election race

Jerusalem - Arab Israeli politician Sami Abu Shehadeh has withdrawn his candidacy for Israel's parliamentary election due to a decision by the Supreme Court. Abu Shehadeh, who leads the left-wing Palestinian Balad party, served in the Knesset from 2019 to 2022. The court's ruling reflected concerns over his comments about Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, which Abu Shehadeh described as an important historical event.

However, Abu Shehadeh denies supporting the attack. The Supreme Court permitted him to voluntarily withdraw from the election, citing potential severe consequences for the country's political and parliamentary life. Adalah, a rights group representing Abu Shehadeh, criticized the court for effectively disqualifying him, emphasizing his decades-long commitment to human rights and opposition to violence.

The decision to disqualify Arab Israeli candidates is rare in Israel, where the Supreme Court typically overturns most bans. Disqualification is only permitted if a candidate denies Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state or supports armed struggle against Israel.