Yoaz says the evidence does not justify disqualification
Yuval YoazLawyer and legal commentator writing in Zman Israel
Yoaz argues that the existing legal standard does not justify barring Abu Shehadeh, despite his criticism of the article. English translation: These statements do not justify disqualification from running.
“אין בדברים אלה כדי להצדיק פסילה מהתמודדות.”
Analysis
Where this statement fits
The effort to disqualify Sami Abu Shehadeh from Israel's 2026 election
Israel's Central Elections Committee voted on September 23, 2026 to disqualify Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh from the October 27 Knesset election. The dispute centers on whether his writing about the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack meets the legal threshold for supporting armed struggle against Israel. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara supported disqualification. Abu Shehadeh and his lawyers at Adalah challenged the evidence and described the effort as an attack on Arab political representation. At an October 1 hearing, the Supreme Court indicated that a majority favored disqualification and recommended withdrawal, according to court reporting. Balad subsequently announced that its leadership had agreed to withdraw his candidacy while retaining him as party leader. We have not located a final judgment approving the disqualification or an order accepting a formal withdrawal.
Source and context
Analysis
About this source
Yoaz's legal commentary rejects disqualification under the existing precedents while sharply criticizing Abu Shehadeh's October 2023 article.
Before the quotation
He says he views the article as supporting a terrorist organization's armed struggle, but argues that the evidence fails the repeated-conduct standard.
After the quotation
He also argues that the separate Jewish-and-democratic-state ground does not justify exclusion.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to excluding Abu Shehadeh, Yoaz expressly rejects the legal justification. His criticism of the article does not qualify his opposition to the ban.
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More from this case
Read the full caseBalad objects to exclusion while announcing withdrawal
Balad
“استخدام الشطب أداةً لتضييق مساحة العمل السياسي العربي وملاحقة المواقف الوطنية الخارجة عن الإجماع الإسرائيلي.”Read statement
Odeh condemns pressure on Abu Shehadeh to withdraw
“פסילתו של חברי סמי אבו שחאדה היא הצעד הסופי בהפיכה המשטרית”Read statement
Cassif condemns the move to exclude Abu Shehadeh
“אני מאוד מאוכזב, וכעוס על ההחלטה לגבי חברי סאמי אבו שחאדה.”Read statement
Cite this record
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Yoaz says the evidence does not justify disqualification
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/4378-yoaz-argues-that-the-existing-legal-standard-does
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Yoaz says the evidence does not justify disqualification". First published: 2026-10-01. Last updated: 2026-10-01. https://disputeindex.com/events/4378-yoaz-argues-that-the-existing-legal-standard-does