Likud MK Tali Gottlieb Threatens to Quit Without Democratic Primaries Amid Internal Party Strife

Likud Member of Knesset Tali Gottlieb has issued a firm ultimatum: if the party does not hold democratic primaries, she will consider not running on the Likud list in the upcoming elections. Gottlieb emphasized that Likud is a party of voters, not appointments, and criticized fears over low rankings as insufficient reason to cancel primaries. This statement comes amid intense internal conflict within Israel's largest party over the method of selecting its candidate list.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to present a "primaries plus" proposal to the Knesset Constitution Committee. This plan would hold regular primaries but also increase the number of reserved slots on the list to nine or ten, reduce the influence of regional districts from ten to six or seven, and push district representatives down to positions 30 and below. The proposal has sparked criticism from some Likud MKs who view it as undermining internal democracy and consolidating Netanyahu's control over the list.

Beyond political disputes, there is growing financial pressure on Likud MKs and ministers. Delays in convening party institutions to approve the election method have created a bottleneck threatening campaign funding. Each MK and minister is entitled to approximately 380,000 shekels in campaign financing from the Knesset, but requests must be submitted at least 20 days before the primary election day, currently expected on August 4. The deadline for funding applications is this Wednesday, and any further delay could leave candidates without necessary campaign funds, escalating tensions within the party.

The upcoming discussion in the Constitution Committee is expected to be highly contentious, with the future of the Likud list and campaign financing hanging in the balance. It remains uncertain whether Gottlieb will follow through on her threat, if Netanyahu will succeed in pushing his "primaries plus" plan, and how candidates will cope if funding applications cannot be submitted on time. The party is at a critical crossroads as these decisions unfold in the coming days.