Balad Knesset candidate eulogizes terrorist murderer, renewing scrutiny of party

Hassan Nasasra, the fourth candidate on the Arab Israeli Balad party's Knesset list, eulogized Maher Younes, a terrorist who murdered IDF soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980. Nasasra described Younes, who died recently, as "a great national and humanitarian figure, a symbol of resilience and sacrifice." He defended his remarks to Israel's Channel 14, stating that "offering condolences for people who have passed is part of Islamic culture. There’s nothing wrong with it," and claimed he was unaware of Younes's crime. Balad has a history of supporting Younes, with party members attending a reception for him upon his release from prison in January 2023 after serving a 40-year sentence. Likud MK Ariel Kallner announced he would seek Balad's disqualification from the upcoming October 27 election, citing the party's praise for terrorists as "a moral disgrace." The Central Elections Committee has previously disqualified Balad twice, though the Supreme Court overturned both decisions.