Supreme Court rejects appeal over Likud regional slots, backs party court ruling

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an appeal challenging a Likud party court's decision to overturn a vote that would have allowed sitting MKs, ministers, and deputy ministers to compete for regional slots on the party's Knesset slate. The appeal, filed by MK Afif Abed, was withdrawn after the panel of Justices Daphne Barak Erez, Ofer Grosskopf, and Alex Stein indicated their intent to reject it. The justices emphasized their reluctance to intervene in internal party disputes, with Justice Barak Erez asking, "Why is the Supreme Court needed?" Justice Grosskopf added that there were "no grounds for intervention" in the Likud court's decision, stressing the high threshold required for judicial oversight of internal party rulings.