Chairman of the Central Election Committee, Judge Salim Joubran, announced on Monday that former broadcaster for the Reshet Aleph radio Tsega Melaku will not be able to run in the upcoming elections with Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu party because she did not complete the "cooling-off" period, 100 days, since she left her broadcasting job and thus still considered a state worker.
Tsega was on the path to possibly becoming the first Ethiopian born MK.
"I am aware that my decision harms Melaku's legal right to run in the elections. It seems that the general public, especially the Ethiopian community in Israel, would benefit if Melaku would run in the election and get elected. Unfortunately, the situation does not look like it will change (in time) for the 20th Knesset," said Judge Joubran.