Likud Postpones Primary Vote Again Amid Internal Disputes and Security Concerns

Following a late-night discussion at the Likud party court between Monday and Tuesday, the vote by the party conference on the primary election regulations and reserved slots requested by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was postponed again, likely to the coming Sunday. Earlier this week, the Likud Constitution Committee approved Netanyahu's proposal to change the primary system, granting him eight reserved slots on the party list. The plan also bars current deputy ministers and Knesset members from running in districts except in the non-Jewish sector. The final district boundaries will be set based on the voter registry as of July 26, and gender representation guarantees will be maintained with adjustments if fewer than enough women are elected by the 14th spot.

Netanyahu was authorized to activate a special organizing committee led by five mayors if wartime conditions restrict gatherings, potentially affecting the vote day. Netanyahu told the committee he supports primaries but warned that exceptional security situations could hinder holding conferences or voting. Last weekend, after the primary regulations vote was canceled, senior Likud officials indicated to Channel 13 that the party might resort to the organizing committee, effectively canceling the primaries amid a vote-rigging scandal exposed by the same outlet.

On Thursday, a temporary court order halted the vote on Netanyahu's reserved slots after a petition from the National Labor Federation's social forum, citing flawed legal procedures just minutes before polls opened. The Constitution Committee had approved granting Netanyahu eight reserved slots following intense negotiations, including a meeting between Netanyahu and party chairman Minister Haim Katz. During Monday's committee meeting, MK David Bitan left after a heated confrontation with Netanyahu, who challenged Bitan to lead the party and bring more mandates. Bitan, previously the loudest opponent of the move, reportedly reconciled with Netanyahu's leadership after initial resistance to canceling primaries and transferring power to the party conference.

Channel 13 reported Netanyahu privately doubts the current list can secure governance and is deliberately delaying the process to limit time for full primaries. Some Likud MKs, including Eli Revivo and Osher Shkalim, were reportedly offered jobs in exchange for withdrawing from the primaries. The primary vote is now expected to take place on August 17, pending further developments.