Conflict of Interest Allegations in Likud: Judge Ruled in Favor of His Brother

MK Afif Abed will petition the District Court alleging a conflict of interest in a Likud court ruling that struck down a clause barring MKs from running in regional slots. Abed claims one of the judges, Rafi Booker, has a brother running in the Negev district, so the ruling benefits him. He was quoted saying, "Isn't this a blatant conflict of interest?" Abed also plans to petition over public statements by another judge, Michael Kleiner.

MK Afif Abed, the Druze representative on the Likud list, will petition the District Court today (Tuesday) alleging a conflict of interest in the Likud court ruling handed down last night. The ruling, which struck down Clause 2 barring MKs, ministers, and deputy ministers from running in regional slots, may benefit the brother of one of the judges, Rafi Booker, who is running in the Negev district slot. Abed was quoted as saying: "Where has such a thing been heard? What kind of democracy is this? A brother of a candidate sits on the panel of judges and rules in a way that helps his brother. Isn't this a blatant conflict of interest?" He added that he will also petition over additional cases, including the fact that judge Michael Kleiner gave interviews in recent weeks and publicly spoke out against the ideas raised in the vote. The article reports on the reverberations within the party and the first petition filed.