Netanyahu's Proposal for Likud Party List Approved Amid Internal Dispute

Following the cancellation of internal Likud primaries, the party's Constitution Committee, chaired by Minister Haim Katz and attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, approved Netanyahu's proposal for the party list formation. Under this plan, Netanyahu will receive eight reserved slots on the list. Meanwhile, the proposal by MK David Bitan failed to gain majority support and will not be brought to a vote by the Likud Central Committee.

The committee discussed temporary regulations to amend the primary system, electoral districts, and reserved slots. According to the party statement, Netanyahu's proposal passed by a large majority. It includes provisions that Netanyahu's reserved slots do not require further approval, ministers, deputy ministers, and MKs cannot run in districts except in the non-Jewish sector, and Netanyahu's reserved slots do not override women's representation guarantees. If only two women are elected within the top 14 positions, only the reserved slot at number 10 will be canceled.

The proposal also allows Netanyahu, in case of a wartime event or emergency restricting gatherings between the conference approval and primaries, to appoint a special organizing committee to set the list. Netanyahu stated in a closed meeting that if security conditions prevent primaries, the list will be determined by this committee, effectively securing his control.

Sources told ynet that Netanyahu's remarks were seen as an attempt to intimidate the Constitution Committee members into granting him full decision-making power. In a meeting with Likud local leaders, Netanyahu expressed frustration that they were unaware of his campaign messages against Gadi Eisenkot, falsely claiming Eisenkot opposed strikes on Iran and Qasem Soleimani. Eisenkot responded on X, stating the issue is not communication but credibility and leadership, emphasizing that Israeli citizens and local leaders know the truth.

The controversy over the reserved slots vote has lasted several days. Last Friday, the party court ordered a renewed discussion today after the initial approval by the Constitution Committee and a planned Central Committee vote were halted by a petition filed shortly before the polls opened, canceling the primaries. The process has effectively restarted.