Likud Court Gives Netanyahu Ultimatum on Election List Candidates

The internal Likud party court has issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding he submit his chosen candidates for the party's electoral list by 9:00 PM on Monday, September 7. Failure to comply could lead to the approval of his quota candidates being decided by a secret ballot of the party secretariat. The court cautioned that presenting the list just before a vote might be seen as an attempt to bypass normal procedures, emphasizing the need for the party leadership to have adequate time for review and to decide on the necessity of a secret ballot.

So far, Netanyahu has only named a few individuals for reserved spots: Oren Dobronsky, the sole external appointee, along with Gideon Sa'ar, Haim Katz, and Israel Katz. The court's decision comes after the party's legal advisor, Ilan Bombach, informed the court that due to the current political climate, fulfilling a previous decision in its entirety is impossible. While the court acknowledged that extraordinary circumstances might justify waiving the standard 48-hour notice period for secretariat members to review proposals, some parties have already submitted their lists, creating time constraints.

Netanyahu has not yet finalized his choices, despite discussions with several potential candidates. Pressure from senior ministers, his wife Sara, and son Yair reportedly urges him to select candidates with staunchly right-wing views. Concerns exist within the party about potential candidates defecting to rival blocs, especially in scenarios where political blocs might win an equal number of Knesset seats. Netanyahu's delay is attributed not only to his tendency to decide at the last minute but also to his difficulty in attracting candidates who could significantly impact the election campaign.

The ultimatum was issued as the Likud secretariat meeting, initially scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed. Among the potential candidates being considered are lawyer David Peter, who has represented the government in legal petitions and defended Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Professor Keren Assayag. However, there is internal disagreement regarding Assayag's suitability, with some viewing her inclusion as a political risk with limited electoral benefit. It is expected that Netanyahu will present his final list of candidates on Tuesday, September 8, the deadline for submitting electoral lists to the Central Elections Committee, potentially altering some Likud positions.