Tel Aviv District Court Upholds Likud Ban on MKs Running in Different Districts

The Tel Aviv District Court rejected petitions challenging the Likud party's internal court decision that bars members of Knesset, ministers, and their deputies from running in different districts during the party's primary elections. This ruling maintains the cancellation of a clause that previously allowed these officials to run in districts where the candidate was decided by a narrow margin of votes. The clause's removal sparked multiple petitions and internal controversy within Likud, especially as some MKs intended to run in various districts in the upcoming primaries.

The Likud party's internal court had annulled the clause last week, preventing MKs, ministers, and their deputies from contesting in multiple districts. The district court's decision today leaves this ruling intact, effectively closing the door on the option that had briefly been available to these politicians. Among those affected by this decision are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Construction and Housing Haim Katz, and Minister of Settlement Orit Strook.

This legal outcome solidifies the party's internal election framework ahead of the next primaries, limiting the strategic flexibility of senior party members in choosing electoral districts. The ruling is seen as a significant development in the internal dynamics of Likud and its candidate selection process.