Israel's Top Court Urges Balad Leader to Leave Knesset Race

Sami Abu Shehadeh, leader of Balad, was urged Oct. 1 by Israel's Supreme Court to drop out of the Oct. 27 Knesset (Israel's parliament) election by Friday morning or be formally barred. Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit said most justices back disqualification. The court is reviewing appeals of Central Elections Committee bans on Arab candidates and lists.