After days of tension and public disagreements inside the ruling party, Likud decided on Monday to hold open democratic primaries. About 150,000 registered Likud members are expected to vote and decide the composition of the party’s next Knesset list. At the same time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to receive reserved slots on the slate, in coordination and full agreement with faction members.
Transportation Minister and cabinet member Miri Regev moved on Tuesday to dispel rumors that internal elections might be canceled. In an interview with Gideon Okko and Amichai Attali on 103fm’s "Seven Nine," she said she wanted to clarify what was happening behind the scenes in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Regev said, "I speak with the prime minister. At no stage did he tell me he wanted a selection committee," directly contradicting claims made in recent days by other Likud lawmakers. She acknowledged, however, that outside figures had raised the idea with him. "It is true that several people, among them local council heads, recommended that he go now for a selection committee, but at no stage did he say he supported a selection committee. It was completely clear to me that we were going to primaries. 150,000 Likud members will come on primary day to choose the best slate."
Asked about Netanyahu’s reported demand for around 10 reserved spots for people of his choosing, Regev said the matter would be settled through internal dialogue. "In the end Netanyahu brings us most of the votes," she said. "Of course his opinion will be heard and also weighed positively. Whether he gets 10 or 7 reserved spots? In the end the decision will be reached through dialogue, but the prime minister will definitely get reserved spots, and this is not the first time."