Likud MK Tsega Melaku Withdraws From Primaries Amid Ethiopian Community Representation Concerns

Tsega Melaku, a Likud MK who secured the 37th spot on the party list and entered the Knesset through the Norwegian Law, announced on Friday that she will not run in the upcoming Likud primaries scheduled for Monday. Her decision follows the party's refusal to grant her a reserved spot, sparking frustration among Ethiopian-Israeli community leaders who feel the community lacks adequate representation.

In recent days, several spiritual leaders from the Ethiopian community appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure Melaku a reserved slot in the next elections, arguing it was unacceptable for the community to lose its representative after just one term. However, Netanyahu's office did not respond, and while other candidates like Oren Dobronski, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Likud Central Committee Chairman Haim Katz received reserved spots, Melaku chose to withdraw. Sources close to the party suggest Netanyahu may have deprioritized the Ethiopian community's vote this time. Melaku stated that no reasonable political constellation remained for her to win a seat, with immigrant slots blocked and her community feeling there was no chance. She expressed disappointment at not receiving a reserved spot after her hard work in the current Knesset.

Melaku was brought into Likud in the previous elections as a response to MK Pnina Tamano-Shata, a prominent Ethiopian-Israeli leader whose electoral strength was proven in past campaigns. Tamano-Shata has shifted between parties, including Yesh Atid, Blue and White, and the State Camp, and was placed second on Blue and White's list, encouraging many Ethiopian-Israelis to vote for that party. Recently, senior Likud figures approached Tamano-Shata to explore whether she would leave Blue and White to join Likud, but she declined, choosing to remain with Benny Gantz.

Ethiopian immigrants and their descendants make up about 1.8% of Israel's population, with Netanyahu's polls estimating their voting potential at around two Knesset seats. Melaku's withdrawal could alter the community's voting dynamics. The upcoming Likud primaries will feature 40 candidates competing for fewer realistic list positions, with only 15 spots available for men up to the 30th place and three realistic spots for women out of eight prominent female MKs. This means many veteran Likud ministers and MKs may lose their seats in the next Knesset.