Netanyahu Defies Ultimatum, Delays Likud 'Armored' List Release

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defied an ultimatum from the Likud party's internal court, refusing to release the list of "armored" or protected Knesset candidates by the court's 9 PM deadline on Tuesday. The Likud movement, in a response filed with the court, stated its intention to submit the list only Wednesday morning, providing party secretariat members a few hours to review it before the final submission deadline to the Knesset at 10 PM Wednesday. This move leaves Netanyahu only hours to finalize his decisions on the protected list.

The Likud court had set the ultimatum, warning that failure to submit the list by 9 PM could be interpreted as consent to a secret ballot vote by the secretariat, even without the required 10% signature threshold. The Likud movement is now demanding this part of the ruling be canceled, arguing the court's interim decision was delivered too late, giving them only 115 minutes to respond, which they deem unreasonable and disproportionate.

The party also contends that the court created a new voting mechanism not requested in the original petition, which aimed to prevent the secretariat from discussing the protected list or to nullify it. The Likud insists that silence does not constitute agreement, especially given the short response time and their explicit opposition to the ruling.

The dispute also involves the status of Minister Israel Katz's protected spot. MK David Bitan's petition sought to count Katz's spot within Netanyahu's eight allocated protected slots, not in addition to them. The Likud movement rejects this, citing previous court decisions from August that confirmed Katz's spot as an additional, separate protected position.

Netanyahu has been engaged in intensive consultations regarding the protected list, postponing a planned announcement. Potential candidates include attorney David Peter and Yiska Bina, head of the Movement for Governability and Democracy. Sources close to the Prime Minister stated he will not allow the court's ultimatum to dictate his decisions, emphasizing his desire to secure the best candidates for the Likud without succumbing to pressure.