Abu Shehadeh questioned Court suggests withdrawal

Oct 1

Shahar Glick and Shelly Tapiero report the Supreme Court's disruptive candidate-disqualification hearing. Alex Stein challenges Sami Abu Shehadeh over his post-October 7 article and his failure to call Hamas a terrorist organization in his articles. Abu Shehadeh says Hamas committed terrorist acts he opposes, expresses regret and rejects condoning atrocities. Tally Gotliv argues for disqualification. Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit says upholding the exclusion appears likely and suggests withdrawal to avoid a reasoned ruling. Yousef Jabareen calls this a blow to democratic rights; Ilan Bombach favors withdrawal or a precedent. Hearings on other candidates and Arab lists continue. In a separate return, Tapiero explains withdrawal, a written judgment, or an initial bottom-line ruling followed by reasons, with a Sunday deadline. She describes criticism that Amit is avoiding defining speech limits and changing prior doctrine. No final judicial disqualification or withdrawal is reported.

At a nine-judge Supreme Court eligibility hearing, Sami Abu Shehadeh is challenged over his post-October 7 article and characterization of Hamas. He opposes the terrorist acts and expresses regret. Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit says exclusion appears likely and suggests withdrawal rather than a reasoned ruling; opposing lawyers and representatives dispute the implications. Kan's later return explains the possible procedural outcomes and Sunday deadline. No final withdrawal or judicial ruling has occurred in the broadcast. RTVE's same-day overview describes arguments from the excluded Arab parties and demonstrations seeking reversal, with the outcome still pending. This is one October 1 eligibility hearing; the full detailed Kan account and separate RTVE report retain their own ranges and attribution.