Likud Leadership Feud Erupts Over Primary Results

A fierce dispute has erupted within the Likud party's leadership concerning the results of its recent primary elections, escalating into a public confrontation between Minister Gila Gamliel and Minister Haim Katz.

Gamliel accused Katz of attempting to "steal" the election in favor of fellow candidate Etti Attias. She has filed a petition with the Likud's internal court regarding the primary outcomes. Katz, in response, vehemently denied the allegations, stating that he has been subjected to a "campaign of slander" by Gamliel, her family, and associates over the past week. He explained his initial public silence was to protect the Likud's interests ahead of crucial elections for Israel's future.

The core of the conflict lies in the ranking of women candidates, which impacts the implementation of a reserved representation mechanism within the party's Knesset list. In the updated national results, Attias secured 22,210 votes, placing her 18th overall and third among women. Gamliel received 21,754 votes, ranking her 20th overall and fourth among women. The narrow margin of 456 votes between them is critical.

Due to the reserved representation clause, Attias is positioned to receive the 25th spot on the Likud's list for the upcoming Knesset elections. This ranking, however, pushes Gamliel down to the 35th position, despite her higher overall finish in the national vote count. Gamliel is contesting this outcome, which she believes is unfairly influenced by Katz's alleged actions, leading to her significant drop in the list's ranking.