Tzega Melko Withdraws From Likud Primary After Missing Reserved Slot

Likud MK Tzega Melko withdrew from the party's August 17 primary after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not grant her a reserved place on the candidate slate. Ethiopian community leaders had asked Netanyahu to preserve representation by reserving a slot for Melko, but the request was not accepted. Melko said remaining in the race would risk pushing the Ethiopian representative into an unrealistic position on the slate, and that she chose to step aside responsibly. Her withdrawal comes three days before Likud members choose their Knesset list for the October 27 election.