High-profile case9/18/2026

Attorney General Opposed Disqualifying Sami Abu Shehadeh from the Elections

The Attorney General opposed the Otzma Yehudit party’s request to disqualify Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh. Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized this position, but the source does not report a final decision on the request.

Key facts

•Parties: Otzma Yehudit and Sami Abu Shehadeh
•Issue: Request for disqualification from the elections
•Attorney General’s position: Opposition to the request
•Publication date: September 18, 2026
•The case number and judicial decision were not specified

Nature of the Dispute

The Otzma Yehudit party filed a request to disqualify Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh. The Attorney General opposed this request. The publication did not specify the body considering the matter, the case number, or the legal grounds for the parties’ positions.

Ben-Gvir’s Position

Otzma Yehudit chairman and minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly condemned the Attorney General’s position. He noted that she had previously believed that he should be removed from his position as minister of national security and expressed outrage at the possibility that Abu Shehadeh would be allowed to enter the Knesset.

The Allegations Against Abu Shehadeh

Ben-Gvir stated that Abu Shehadeh and others cannot serve as Knesset members because of their views. According to the minister, the reason is not their Arab origin, but their support for terrorism. The source presents these remarks as Ben-Gvir’s position and does not report that these circumstances were established in judicial proceedings.

No Decision Has Yet Been Specified

The article contains no information indicating that a court, the Central Elections Committee, or any other body has already issued a final decision. It also does not specify the applicable statutory provisions, the date of the hearing, or the procedural status of the request.

What this means for you

The Attorney General’s opposition does not in itself constitute final approval of the candidate’s candidacy: the source indicates only that there is a dispute surrounding the disqualification request. The practical implications for voters and candidates will apply after the competent body issues its decision, but no such decision is included in the publication.

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