Likud Holds Nationwide Vote on Netanyahu's Primary Election Proposal Amid Legal Delays

The Likud party conference to vote on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Haim Katz's proposal to change the primary election system has been rescheduled to next Monday after multiple delays due to legal challenges. The vote will take place at 17 locations across Israel from 11:00 to 20:00, allowing approximately 4,500 Likud Central Committee members to participate. This broad geographic distribution is expected to secure a majority in favor of Netanyahu's proposal.

The proposal grants Netanyahu eight reserved spots on the party list and includes a contingency for appointing the list via a special committee if security conditions prevent holding primaries. Likud officials clarified that only an official Home Front Command directive prohibiting gatherings, not the mere existence of war or an Iranian attack, would cancel the primaries. They emphasized that Netanyahu has no authority over such security instructions, which are determined by military professionals and the Defense Minister's office.

Unlike earlier plans, there will be no concluding event after the vote; results will be announced once all ballots from the 17 sites are counted. If approved, the only factor that could prevent the primaries from proceeding would be a professional security directive from the Home Front Command, beyond the Prime Minister's control. The legal proceedings that delayed the vote remain ongoing at the district court in Lod.