Following the revelation by journalist Yishai Friedman that the Balad party held two separate events in support of convicted terrorist operatives, the director of the National Union party, Yehuda Wald, submitted a petition to Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit demanding that he launch a criminal investigation into Balad's actions.
In his letter, Wald notes that Friedman revealed that MK Sami Abu Shehadeh and former Balad chairman Jamal Zahalka both attended an event honoring Anis Spori, a security prisoner who was released after serving a prison term served for planning to carry out attacks.