Disqualified candidate Sami Abu Shahada gave an interview Thursday to Qatari media and delivered a tirade against Israel and its Jewish citizens. Abu Shahada discussed Arab parties’ preparations for the upcoming election and made clear their top goal: bringing down the right-wing government.
1+Abu Shahada opened the interview by saying “there is no other regime in human history that is as right-wing extremist and fascist as the one currently ruling the State of Israel.” He went on to claim that incitement against Arab society stems from fear of their political power, and that he worries the incitement in Israel could lead to violence against Arab citizens—with government backing, he alleged.
The disqualified candidate then launched into accusations of racism. Abu Shahada said Jewish society is now split into two camps, both of them racist: “This society (Jewish-Israeli) is racist, steeped in racism, and now it faces a very significant challenge.” In a proper state, he claimed, Arabs would be given space to wield political influence, but because of racism within Israel they are denied that space.
1+Abu Shahada also attacked the left-wing bloc—the very camp he’s trying to help form a government—saying joining them to topple the right was choosing between bad and worse: “We are not saying there is a good option. We wish there were, but there is no good option. We say this with pain.” Still, Abu Shahada added: “Our primary goal is to prevent the genocide government from returning to power, and we will do everything in our power to achieve that.”