Likud Asks Supreme Court to Rule as Monday Primary Faces Cancellation

Likud asked the Supreme Court to rule Wednesday on its appeal over whether serving and former lawmakers, ministers and deputy ministers may contest district slots in the party primary scheduled for Monday. The appeal followed a district court's rejection of MK Afif Abed's petition, a ruling that bars those officeholders from the district races. The Supreme Court had been expected to hear the appeal Thursday. Likud primary project manager Aviad Ezer warned that preparations must begin by 4 p.m. Wednesday and said a postponement would add more than NIS 5.5 million in costs.