Israeli Arab leader quits election under pressure from court over October 7 remarks

Israeli Arab Leader Withdraws From Election After Court Flags October 7 Comments

Controversy Surrounding Sami Abu Shehadeh's Disqualification

By Pesha Magid

Background of the Disqualification

JERUSALEM, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The head of a left-wing Arab party dropped out of Israel's election after the Supreme Court indicated judges were likely to disqualify him for an article that described the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks as an "important historical event".

Shehadeh's Defense and Context

Sami Abu Shehadeh has denied that his remarks amounted to endorsing the attack by fighters who killed 1,200 people and brought 251 hostages to Gaza in the deadliest day in Israeli history. The attack precipitated the Israeli assault on Gaza in which 74,000 Palestinians were killed.

Other Disqualifications and Court Ruling

Israel's Central Election Commission had sought to ban Shehadeh from competing in the election, along with four parties seeking to represent Israel's 20% Arab minority, and Ofer Cassif, a Jewish Communist lawmaker who supports Palestinian causes.

In a ruling on Friday, the court overturned the other bans, but said a majority had been likely to vote to uphold the ban on Shehadeh, before he withdrew making the question moot. Judges had agreed unanimously that statements by Abu Shehadeh were "painful, disturbing and revolting", it said.

Reactions to the Court's Decision

Shehadeh's Response

Abu Shehadeh told Reuters the decision showed that "in the Jewish state, there are two different laws for citizens according to their identity," saying Jewish far-right figures had not been barred from standing despite remarks that amount to hate speech against Palestinians.

"The margins for political activity, for freedom of speech for the Arab-Palestinian minority in Israel, are becoming narrower," he said.

Government and Political Figures' Responses

Statements from Itamar Ben-Gvir

Israel's far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has been allowed to stand despite a past conviction for inciting racial hatred, said his Jewish Power movement had "managed to oust Sami Abu Shehadeh and stop him from entering the Knesset."

"We will not allow supporters of terrorism and those who praise martyrs to operate freely in Israel's Knesset."

Election Context and Opposition Reaction

The October 27 election is Israel's first since the Hamas-led attack and Gaza war that followed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing ruling coalition has used images of Arab party leaders in campaign literature, among tactics that critics say amount to demonising Israeli Arabs to win votes.

In a sarcastic message on X, prominent Netanyahu opponent Gadi Eisenkot expressed condolences over the disqualification of the prime minister's "ally", a reference to the role that opponents say stoking fear over Israeli Arabs plays in Netanyahu's campaign.

(Reporting by Pesha MagidEditing by Peter Graff)