The Battle for the Coveted Slot That Could Complicate the Former Communications Minister

MK Afif Abed announced his candidacy in the Likud primaries for the Galilee and Valleys district. The declaration may signal a showdown with former minister Ayoub Kara over the non-Jewish candidate slot on the list, after the Likud court ruled in 2022 that Kara was ineligible to run for it.

MK Afif Abed announced today (Tuesday) that he will run in the Likud primaries for the Galilee and Valleys district. In a statement, he called on Likud members from all sectors in the district—Jews, Druze, and all party members—to grant him their support, emphasizing the long-standing partnership among residents of the area and his commitment to continue representing the district in the Knesset. However, beyond the district race, Abed's announcement may also mark the opening of another battle—this time against former minister Ayoub Kara. If Kara indeed runs in the primaries, the two may also vie for securing representation for the non-Jewish candidate on the Likud list, a slot that could be crucial for both. The issue is not new. In the 2022 primaries, Ayoub Kara initially won the minority slot, but after a petition filed by Afif Abed, the Likud court ruled that Kara was ineligible to run for the designated slot due to Likud constitution provisions regarding his status as a former MK during the relevant period. Following that decision, Abed was placed as the Likud's non-Jewish candidate on the Knesset list. But this time the picture is different. Abed already serves as a Likud MK, and Kara may be eligible to run for the designated slot if he meets the constitutional conditions. In such a case, if neither of them is elected to a realistic position on their own, they may compete head-to-head for securing the non-Jewish candidate representation—which could make their battle one of the most intriguing contests in the upcoming primaries.