MK Zaga Melku withdraws from primaries; Likud officials sounded out Pnina Tamano-Shata

MK Zaga Melku announced she will not run in the Likud primaries after not receiving a reserved slot. Likud officials held exploratory talks with Pnina Tamano-Shata, but she remained with Gantz. Melku joined Likud in the previous elections as a response to Tamano-Shata, and her withdrawal may shift the balance of power in the Ethiopian community's vote.

MK Zaga Melku, who was placed 37th on the Likud list and entered the Knesset after the Norwegian Law was applied, announced this morning (Friday) that she will not run in the party's primaries scheduled for Monday. The decision came after she did not receive a reserved slot in Likud, amid anger among Ethiopian Israelis over the lack of community representation. In recent days, several spiritual leaders from the Ethiopian community approached Netanyahu on Melku's behalf, asking to reserve her a spot on the next list, but Netanyahu's office did not respond. Melku said: "No reasonable political constellation remained for me to be elected; the immigrant slot is blocked, and the community behind me felt there was no chance anyway. I expected a reserved slot after the hard work in the current Knesset, but it didn't happen." Meanwhile, ynet learned that senior Likud officials held exploratory talks with MK Pnina Tamano-Shata, trying to see if she would agree to leave Gantz, but she said she is staying with Gantz. Melku's withdrawal may shift the balance of power in the Ethiopian community's vote, estimated at about 1.8% of the total population and a potential of about two seats. In the primaries next week, 40 ministers, MKs, and former MKs will compete for limited realistic slots.