Israeli Court Bars Sitting Likud MKs and Ministers from Running in District Primaries

The Tel Aviv District Court rejected a petition challenging the Likud party's internal court ruling that prohibits current ministers, deputy ministers, and Knesset members from running in the party's district primaries. This decision overturns a recent party center vote that had narrowly approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to allow sitting politicians to compete in these primaries.

Prior to the court ruling, internal petitions led the Likud party court to annul the earlier decision, citing procedural irregularities and violations of the principle of equality. As a result, at least half of the Likud faction members may be excluded from the upcoming Knesset elections unless they resign their parliamentary seats to run in the districts.

Alongside the contested proposal, other measures concerning reserved list spots for Netanyahu were approved by a significant majority. These reserved positions grant Netanyahu eight secured slots within the top 30 places on the party list, including spots 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 26, and 29.

The ruling significantly impacts the composition of the Likud list for the next elections and restricts the ability of incumbent lawmakers to participate in district-based primaries without relinquishing their current roles.