Arab Party Candidate Accused of Sexual Harassment Refuses to Quit Slate
Jafar Farah, accused of sexual harassment, refuses to quit the Hadash party's Knesset list, delaying their slate ahead of the filing deadline.
Jerusalem, 6 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Jafar Farah, 60, a social and political activist who heads the Mossawa Center for the Rights of Arab Citizens in Israel, refused on Sunday to quit the Hadash party’s Knesset list.
Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality) announced Friday that Farah was withdrawing from the No. 2 spot following allegations of sexual harassment. Farah later denied agreeing to resign, saying he had been in a medical condition that prevented him from making a clear decision when the reports were published.
Two women have accused Farah of sexually harassing them about 20 years ago.
His refusal to sign a formal resignation is preventing Hadash from finalizing its slate and delaying the Hadash-Ta’al Joint List ahead of the candidate filing deadline.
The party has selected Samir Abu Zeid, head of the I’billin Local Council, as a possible replacement.