AG: High Court Should Uphold Sami Abu Shehadehs Election Disqualification
Israel's Attorney General and State Attorney asked the High Court to uphold Sami Abu Shehadeh's election disqualification due to his article supporting Hamas.
Jerusalem, 29 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Isman told the High Court of Justice on Tuesday that it should uphold the Central Elections Committee’s disqualification of Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh from the upcoming Knesset election.
They argued that an article Abu Shehadeh published on October 8, 2023, one day after Hamas launched its October 7 attack and while the assault was still underway, expressed support for armed struggle against Israel, including the Hamas attack. The two officials cited the “extreme circumstances” and timing of the article.
“The article … expresses an approach of support for Hamas’s armed struggle against the State of Israel,” they said, adding that Abu Shehadeh’s subsequent explanations were “partial” and did not address the central allegations against him.
The Central Elections Committee voted 31-4 to disqualify Abu Shehadeh. A nine-judge High Court panel will hear his appeal Thursday.