The battle for the coveted slot: How Likud primaries could complicate things for the former Communications Minister

MK Afif Abed announced on Tuesday that he will run in the Likud primaries for the Galilee and Valleys district. In his statement, he called on Likud members from all sectors of the district—Jews, Druze, and all party members—to grant him their support, emphasizing the long-standing partnership with the region's residents and his commitment to continuing to represent the district in the Knesset.

Beyond the contest for the district, Abed's announcement may signal the opening of another battle, this time against former minister Ayoob Kara. If Kara does indeed run in the primaries, the two may clash over securing the representation for the non-Jewish candidate on the Likud list, a slot that could be of decisive significance for both of them.

The issue is not new. In the 2022 primaries, Ayoob Kara initially won the contest for the minority slot, but after a petition filed by Afif Abed, the Likud party court ruled that Kara was ineligible to run for the designated slot due to provisions in the Likud constitution regarding his status as a former MK at the time. Following that decision, Abed was placed as the Likud's non-Jewish candidate on the Knesset list.

However, the situation is different this time. Abed is already serving as an MK for Likud, and Kara may be eligible to run for the designated slot if he meets the constitutional conditions. In such a case, if neither is elected to a realistic spot on their own, they may face off head-to-head over securing the representation for the non-Jewish candidate, which could turn the battle between them into one of the most intriguing struggles in the upcoming primaries.