Likud MK Tali Gottlieb Strongly Opposes Committee to Select Party List, Accuses Haim Katz of Controlling Netanyahu

Likud Member of Knesset Tali Gottlieb launched a sharp critique on Sunday against the proposal to establish a committee to select the party's Knesset candidates. She claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firmly opposes the move and accused Minister Haim Katz of exerting undue influence over Netanyahu to support the committee's formation.

Gottlieb emphasized that the Likud party is democratic, with its members directly choosing their Knesset representatives, and warned that replacing this system with a committee would amount to corruption. She argued that such a committee would create obligations of parliament members toward mayors involved in their selection, potentially leading to favoritism in budget allocations. Gottlieb questioned whether anyone, including Netanyahu, wants ministers beholden to such interests.

She directed her main criticism at Haim Katz, asserting he "holds the Prime Minister by the throat" to secure approval for the committee. Gottlieb also noted that Katz is expected to receive a reserved spot on the Likud list through one of Netanyahu's reserved slots, describing this as the price the party might pay to preserve the primary election system.

Gottlieb made clear she opposes replacing internal party elections with a selection committee and expressed confidence that the committee proposal will not materialize.