Internal Likud Conflict Erupts Over Primary Election Rules and Netanyahu's Influence

A significant internal dispute has emerged within Israel's Likud party involving close associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior party figures. The controversy centers on a secret political alliance allegedly formed between David Sharan, acting CEO of the Likud movement, and Minister Haim Katz, chairman of the party's Constitution Committee. Party insiders claim Netanyahu's circle is withholding from him a critical decision by the party's court that weakens Katz's authority.

The Constitution Committee was scheduled to convene on Tuesday by 1 p.m. to approve the primary election regulations, following a directive from the Likud court issued the previous Friday. The court mandated the committee meet to allow the party conference at least 48 hours to review the proposed regulations. However, contrary to this ruling, committee members were only summoned for Thursday, citing Netanyahu's prior commitments as the reason for the delay. This postponement sparked frustration within the committee, with members expressing cynicism over the delay.

Late Monday night, attorney Bombach, representing party leaders and Katz, requested an extension to postpone the court's deadline from Tuesday afternoon to midnight between Thursday and Friday, claiming the committee's work was still ongoing. This request faced strong opposition from Dor Harlap, a candidate in the Tel Aviv district, and other party members who accused Netanyahu's associates of misleading him and obstructing the process. Harlap emphasized that the court had already ruled the committee must submit the regulations by Tuesday or else the party chairman could present his own proposal directly to the conference without Katz's approval.

Harlap criticized the delay tactics as a blatant disregard for the court's decisions, which had been reinforced by a district court ruling. He highlighted that the party had failed to hold primaries six months before the upcoming Knesset elections as required by party rules. The court had threatened sanctions and set a firm deadline of July 9, 2026, for approving the primary regulations. If the committee continued to stall, the conference would vote on the 2022 regulations, and Netanyahu could submit his own proposal under his constitutional authority.

The dispute escalated when Netanyahu reportedly visited Katz's home in Shoham to negotiate, agreeing to grant Netanyahu the reserved slots he sought in exchange for allowing Katz's ally, MK Eti Atiya, to run in the primaries. However, Harlap questioned the necessity of Netanyahu's personal involvement in the matter. He demanded the court reject the extension request and allow Netanyahu to present his regulations directly to the party conference on July 9, bypassing the committee that has failed to fulfill its duties.

This internal Likud conflict highlights deep divisions over control of the party's primary process and raises questions about transparency and adherence to party rules ahead of the next Knesset elections.