High Court hearing appeal from renegade MK Chikli who is barred from next election

6 October 2022, 5:12 pm

Edit

Amichai Chikli arrives to the District Court in Jerusalem, for his appeal against the declaration of Chikli as "rebel"- a procedure legislated to block MK's from defecting in return for political appointments, July 10, 2022. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

The High Court is hearing a petition from renegade lawmaker Amichai Chikli who is asking to overturn an election vetting panel’s decision to disqualify him from running in upcoming Knesset elections.

Chikli, who entered the Knesset last year with Yamina but is now seeking to run with the Likud party, was disqualified last week after the left-wing Meretz party filed a petition claiming that he violated election bylaws designed to keep MKs voted in by one party from jumping ship to another party mid-term.

Chikli, who had been slotted by Benjamin Netanyahu in 14th place on Likud’s electoral slate, entered the Knesset last year with Yamina, but refused to vote in favor of the coalition, and was later ejected from the faction.

The court is expected to present its ruling on Sunday.