MK Sami Abu Shehadeh Defends Candidacy Against Disqualification Petitions
MK Sami Abu Shehadeh rejected disqualification efforts led by Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, defending his non-violent political record and condemning civilian casualties.
MK Sami Abu Shehadeh responded on Saturday to ongoing efforts to disqualify his candidacy for the upcoming Knesset elections, specifically targeting the initiative led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Abu Shehadeh dismissed the disqualification petition as an absurdity, contrasting his record of non-violent political activism with Ben Gvir's past convictions.
Response to Disqualification Efforts
Abu Shehadeh argued that there is no basis for comparison between his political path and that of Ben Gvir, noting that the minister was previously convicted of inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organization. In contrast, Abu Shehadeh maintained that his career has been dedicated to a public and non-violent political struggle for Palestinian rights, freedom, justice, and equality for both peoples.
"My human, clear, and resolute stance against the crimes committed in the Gaza envelope is well known," Abu Shehadeh wrote, adding that he would not have published a specific past article had he been fully aware of the scale of the atrocities at the time.
Stance on October 7 and Civilian Casualties
Addressing the events of October 7, Abu Shehadeh emphasized his unequivocal opposition to harming civilians, whether Palestinian or Israeli. He stated that he opposes the massacres committed against residents of the Gaza envelope just as he opposes the ongoing civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. According to Abu Shehadeh, these positions stem from a single moral principle: human life is sacred and non-negotiable.
He concluded by reiterating that his political agenda remains firmly committed to non-violent public activism, human dignity, and the protection of all human life.
