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Sami Abu Shehadeh

Sami Abou Shehadeh attends a hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on the Central Elections Committee’s decision to disqualify him from running in the upcoming Knesset elections, October 1, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 2, 2026, 3:04 am
Facing ban from High Court, Balad’s Abou Shehadeh ends election candidacy
Balad says Abou Shehadeh to remain leader of party, Joint List will continue to work to oust Netanyahu; Ben Gvir celebrates removal, laments court gave him window to quit
By ToI Staff
A hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on the Central Elections Committee’s decision to disqualify Arab parties and candidates from running in the upcoming elections, October 1, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 1, 2026, 5:47 pm
High Court urges Balad chairman to drop out of elections or face disqualification
Justices tell Sami Abu Shehadeh that majority support upholding his ban by Central Elections Committee; Ben Gvir, who sought disqualification, ally MK Gotliv, personally argue case in court
By Ariela Karmel and ToI Staff
Political correspondent Ariela Karmel appears on the Daily Briefing with host Jessica Steinberg (Flash 90)
October 1, 2026, 2:38 pm
Daily Briefing Oct. 1 – Flydubai attack becomes political fodder for candidates
Political correspondent Ariela Karmel discusses rhetoric in wake of copilot’s attack on Dubai flight, and High Court hearings on the disqualification of Arab parties ahead of the election
By Jessica Steinberg and Ariela Karmel
Balad chair Sami Abou Shehadeh appears on a screen behind the Central Elections Committee during a disqualification hearing at the Knesset in Jerusalem, September 23, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 23, 2026, 4:29 pm
Election panel disqualifies all Arab parties, in move likely to be overturned; Balad leader also barred
High Court expected to nix bans on Ra’am, Joint List after politicians cite alleged support for terror, denial of Israel as Jewish state; Sohlberg, AG, all opposition parties back disqualification of Balad’s Abou Shahadeh in rare consensus
By Ariela Karmel
Joint List members Ta'al leader MK Ahmad Tibi (Left), Hadash leader Yousef Jabareen (center), and Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh (right) submit their party’s candidate list to the Central Elections Committee ahead of the upcoming election, at the Knesset, Jerusalem, September 8, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 22, 2026, 7:44 pm
AG: Disqualification of Balad leader from election ‘should be seriously considered’
Baharav-Miara says post-October 7 article by Sami Abu Shehadah may constitute support for armed struggle; Yashar, Blue and White back Otzma Yehudit bid to disqualify him
By Jeremy Sharon and Ariela Karmel
Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg (right), attends the registration of political parties ahead of the election at the Knesset in Jerusalem, September 7, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 9, 2026, 2:43 am
Israel’s election takes shape as 38 parties submit slates, in battle between pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs
Major parties registering on Tuesday feature few women candidates in realistic spots; Shas adds IDF reservist; Sukkot slides on Religious Zionism list; Blue and White makes last-ditch survival effort
By Stav Levaton, Ariela Karmel and Emanuel Fabian
Left to right: Hadash chairman Yousef Jabareen, Balad chair Sami Abou Shahadeh and Ta'al head Ahmad Tibi. (Flash90)
August 19, 2026, 8:37 pm
Arab-majority Hadash, Ta’al and Balad parties agree on joint run after striking deal
Combined election slate would see Hadash’s Yousef Jabareen at the helm, followed by Ta’al’s Ahmad Tibi and then Balad’s Sami Abou Shahadeh, after Tibi demanded better conditions
By ToI Staff
Mohammad Barakeh, chair of umbrella organization for the Arab community, the High Follow-up Committee in Jerusalem on November 3, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
November 9, 2023, 10:05 pm
4 former Arab MKs detained on their way to an anti-war protest
Police allege the planned event threatened public order; Hadash slams ‘silencing of voices for peace’
By ToI Staff
Hadash-Ta'al party leaders at their headquarters in the northern town of Shefaram, as the results of the Israeli general elections are announced, November 1, 2022. (Michael Giladi/Flash90)
November 2, 2022, 3:45 am
2 of 3 Arab factions predicted to enter Knesset, vow to oppose far-right ‘fascism’
Exit polls show Ra’am, Hadash-Ta’al crossing electoral threshold and Balad just below as some voice fear over Religious Zionism’s strong showing
By Jack Mukand
Likud party supporters celebrate at the party headquarters on election night, November 1, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
November 2, 2022, 1:00 am
Right-wing lawmakers celebrate exit polls as opposing bloc urges wait for results
Netanyahu calls surveys ‘a good start’ as Religious Zionism’s Smotrich hails ‘historic’ win, while Yesh Atid calls for patience and Ayelet Shaked concedes
By Amy Spiro
A man and his son vote during elections in Tel Aviv, November 1, 2022. (AP/ Oded Balilty)
November 1, 2022, 8:19 pm
Turnout high as parties project tight contest to drive final votes
Lapid says election hangs on a thread, Likud and allies claim leftist strongholds seeing long lines, and several parties warn they’re falling below threshold as voting nears end
By ToI Staff
Balad party head MK Sami Abu Shahadeh arrives to cast his vote at a voting station for the Israeli general elections, November 1, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
November 1, 2022, 4:42 pm
Casting ballot, long-shot Balad head Sami Abou Shahadeh predicts ‘election surprise’
With fate hinging on Arab turnout, leader of hardline anti-Zionist party confident he will return to Knesset as other Arab voters in Jaffa seek ‘change’ by sticking with Lapid
By Jack Mukand
A woman votes in Tel Aviv, Israel, Nov 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
November 1, 2022, 12:04 pm
Party leaders urge voters to polls as Israel holds fifth election in four years
Faction chiefs cast their ballots and encourage citizens to do the same before voting ends at 10 p.m.; Beit Shemesh polling station attacked by extremists
By ToI Staff
A man walks by an election campaign billboard showing Sami Abu Shehadeh, head of the nationalist Balad party, in the northern Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm, Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (AP/Mahmoud Illean)
October 30, 2022, 3:06 pm
Damned if you vote, damned if you don’t: Despair a deciding factor in Arab turnout
Even generous forecasts cap neglected minority’s turnout at 50%, but Balad’s breakaway from Hadash-Ta’al offers those who refuse to cooperate with government a new political home
By Jacob Magid
Gunmen at the funeral of those killed in clashes sparked by an overnight Israeli raid against the Lion's Den terror group, in the West Bank city of Nablus on October 25, 2022. (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP)
October 25, 2022, 12:56 pm
Lapid on Nablus raid: ‘Anyone who hurts Israelis should know it will end badly’
5 Palestinian gunmen killed in raid, including Lion’s Den terror leader; 6th killed in clash near Ramallah; Gantz: ‘No sanctuary cities for terrorists’; general strike in Nablus
By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff
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