Likud Faces Internal Turmoil Over Delayed Primary Election Rules Approval

The Likud party's Constitution Committee was scheduled to convene by 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, to discuss and approve the primary election regulations, following a directive from the party's court issued the previous Friday. The court mandated that the Likud convention must have at least 48 hours to review the proposed regulations from their publication, and the committee was required to meet before the deadline. However, the committee was instead summoned to meet only on Thursday, citing scheduling conflicts and prior commitments of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This postponement sparked controversy within the committee's WhatsApp group, with members expressing frustration and sarcasm.

Late Monday night, attorney Bombach submitted an urgent request on behalf of Likud institution leaders and Constitution Committee chairman Haim Katz to extend the deadline for approving the regulations until midnight between Thursday and Friday. The request claimed the committee was still working on the regulations and needed more time. This extension was opposed by petitioner Dor Harlap, a candidate in the Dan-Tel Aviv district, and others, who accused Netanyahu's close associates of withholding the full truth from him. They highlighted that according to the court ruling, Netanyahu has the authority to approve the election regulations even without Katz's consent.

Tensions escalated after Netanyahu visited Katz's home in Shoham, where they agreed Netanyahu would receive the desired reserved spots on the party list, while Katz's ally, MK Eti Atiya, would be allowed to run in the districts. Harlap questioned why Netanyahu needed to meet Katz personally when he could present the regulations directly to the Likud convention. Harlap emphasized that the court had already ruled that if the committee failed to approve the regulations by the set deadline, Netanyahu could submit his own proposal directly to the convention under Article 88 of the party constitution.

Harlap also criticized the delay in holding primaries, which should occur six months before Knesset elections according to party rules. He accused the committee of disregarding the court's June ruling, which was upheld by the district court, demanding the regulations be approved by June 25, 2026. After the committee failed to meet this deadline, the court issued a stern warning and set a firm mechanism for approval by July 9, 2026. If the committee continues to delay, the convention will vote on the 2022 regulations, and Netanyahu will be authorized to submit his own proposal. Harlap urged that there is no need to wait for the committee's Thursday meeting and that Netanyahu's proposal should be presented directly to the convention on July 9 for approval.