# Arab party leader forced to withdraw from Israeli elections

https://mins.news/en/item/83194

- Al Jazeera, 2026-10-02 09:25 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/2/arab-party-leader-forced-to-withdraw-from-israeli-elections?traffic_source=rss

> Sami Abu Shehadeh, leader of the left-wing Palestinian Balad party, has withdrawn from Israel’s October 27 Knesset election after the Supreme Court indicated he could be disqualified. He said he had no other choice and accused efforts to block Arab parties of helping Benjamin Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir remain in power.

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