Economic Ultimatum Heightens Tensions Among Likud Leaders Over Primary Elections

Repeated delays in the Likud party's Constitution Committee and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements about the security situation have created significant uncertainty among senior party members regarding the fate of the upcoming primaries. A critical financial deadline is approaching on Tuesday, July 28, when candidates must withdraw their primary election funding from the Knesset, amounting to approximately 370,000 shekels per sitting MK. There is concern that if the primaries are canceled at the last minute, candidates will be forced to return these funds, which they will have already spent on campaign activities.

Netanyahu recently warned that if the security situation deteriorates, the primaries might not take place, increasing anxiety among MKs and candidates. Some suspect that the security concerns, potentially involving escalation with Iran, could be used as a pretext to cancel the internal elections. This suspicion is fueled by ongoing political and legal delays, including the repeated postponement of the vote to set the primary election rules in the Constitution Committee.

Despite Netanyahu's public commitment to hold the primaries, many party insiders fear he might exploit the "exception clause" related to security to cancel the vote. Meanwhile, Netanyahu's camp denies any political motives behind the security considerations. Additionally, there is speculation that Netanyahu aims to form a "steering committee" of five allied mayors to influence the candidate list, increase reserved spots within the top 35 candidates, and push district representatives to lower positions. These moves are seen as efforts to create a more controlled and balanced list ahead of the 2026 elections.

The ongoing legal uncertainties and repeated delays have left no new date set for the Constitution Committee to resume discussions, prolonging the party's internal uncertainty and tension.