Senior Likud Figure in Negev Criticizes Minister Katz Over District Merger Ahead of Primaries

Yechiel Zohar, a prominent Likud leader in the Negev and mayor of Netivot, sharply criticized Minister Haim Katz for his initiative to merge the Negev district with the Judea and Samaria district ahead of the party primaries. Zohar called the move "another whim of Haim Katz" and urged Katz to focus on his own primary campaign instead of others, asserting that the primary results will prove him right.

The criticism reflects widespread anger among Likud activists in the Negev who oppose the merger, arguing it will harm the chances of Negev candidates being elected to the Knesset and reduce local representation within the party list. Moshe Peretz, deputy mayor of Netivot and a candidate for the Negev slot on the Likud list, filed a petition with the party's internal court demanding the cancellation of the decision to merge the districts. The petition claims the merger significantly undermines the Negev district's organizational independence and members' influence in party institutions.

Peretz further argued that the merger is part of a broader restructuring of the party list that contains fundamental flaws violating principles of equality, fairness, and internal democracy. He emphasized that the two districts have distinct characteristics, needs, and operational principles, making the merger unjustified both practically and geographically. Zohar accused Katz of orchestrating the initiative, stating it severely damages Negev candidates and voters who would lose the ability to elect a local representative.

The dispute highlights internal tensions within Likud ahead of the primaries, with local leaders in the Negev mobilizing to protect their political influence and representation against what they see as an imposed restructuring favoring other regions.