The Joint List said on Thursday evening, October 15, that right-wing activists affiliated with the Otzma Yehudit party, including Mordechai David and several others, violently entered its Hebrew-language campaign headquarters in Tel Aviv and assaulted activists and teenagers attending an event at the venue.
The incident took place at the Left Bank club, which houses several civil society organizations and movements. The Joint List said MK Ofer Cassif intended to contact the Tel Aviv District police commander that evening to demand the swift arrest and prosecution of those involved.
"This marks a new and dangerous peak in political violence in the country, a dangerous escalation and a genuine threat to the integrity of the elections," the Joint List said in a statement.
"The writing is on the wall, and we must not wait for the next incident to understand the gravity of the situation and act decisively," the party added.
Joint List accuses police of failing to confront political violence
The Joint List also criticized the Israel Police, accusing those responsible for overseeing law enforcement of enabling the alleged violence.
"We would demand that the Israel Police act decisively, investigate the incident and bring those involved to justice, but unfortunately, those who send the thugs are also the ones who control the police," the party said.
"In 12 days, with our own hands, we will remove them from power."
Balad chairman warns of voter intimidation ahead of Israeli elections
Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh also condemned the incident, alleging that the violence was intended to intimidate Arab voters ahead of the elections and discourage participation.
"A group of violent thugs attacked our activists this evening at the Joint List headquarters in Tel Aviv," Abu Shehadeh said. "I send my support to our activists and stand alongside them."
"This violence is a preview of what they want to do on election day to reduce voter turnout in Arab society, on behalf of the fascist coalition," he claimed.
Abu Shehadeh further accused the police of failing to confront politically motivated violence, warning that a lack of action could encourage additional incidents.
"In any properly functioning country, such thuggery would not be tolerated, but the police are controlled by those who send them," he said.
"Silence in the face of this violence gives a green light to the next stages."
He concluded by calling for increased voter participation in response to attempts at intimidation.
"For every such attempt to silence us, we will turn out in large numbers at the ballot box to remove them from power. Every threat or act of violence will be answered with a flood of ballots for the Joint List!"