Afif Abed Withdraws Petition, Leaving Likud District-Slot Ruling in Place

Likud MK Afif Abed withdrew his Supreme Court petition against the Likud tribunal's rules for district-slot candidacies after the justices indicated they would not intervene. The withdrawal leaves the tribunal's decision in place, preventing sitting MKs from competing through the party's district slots. Abed had challenged the tribunal decision that governs eligibility for those candidacies. The result will shape which routes incumbents may use in the governing party's primary. Likud's primary is expected on Monday, August 17, with the district-slot restrictions now set to remain in force.