Bitan Urges Likud Tribunal to Block Primary Cancellation

Likud MK David Bitan filed an urgent petition on Sunday morning to the party tribunal, asking it to stop the cancellation of the primary election and the creation of a so-called appointed committee. Bitan, who also serves as acting head of Likud’s secretariat, argued that replacing the primaries would strip thousands of party members of their right to choose and be elected.

In the petition, Bitan described the move as a “constitutional coup” carried out about a month before the scheduled primary vote. He said it violates Likud’s constitution, ignores earlier tribunal decisions, and amounts to trampling the rights of tens of thousands of members, while also running counter to proper administration and transparency.

Bitan warned that changing the rules so close to the ballot could cause a loss of trust among Likud activists and damage the movement’s public image ahead of the election. He said, “You cannot change the rules of the game while the game is being played,” and added, “I believe in Likud members and their right to decide, not in an appointed committee.”

He is also asking the tribunal to rule that any proposed change to the party constitution put before the convention must be decided by secret ballot. The petition was filed because of the extreme closeness to the election cycle and what Bitan says is the risk of irreparable harm to proper party procedures.