Likud Prepares to Cancel Primaries and Appoint Committee to Set Knesset List

Sources within the Likud party told Kan News on Friday that if there is no vote on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to hold primaries with reserved spots on Monday, the party will not have enough time to complete the process. In that case, the Knesset candidate list will be determined by a special organizing committee led by Netanyahu. The vote, scheduled during Netanyahu's trip to Washington, may be postponed due to "security reasons."

Ministers close to Netanyahu and local government leaders, including Israel Katz, Avi Dichter, Yoav Kisch, Miki Zohar, Idit Silman, Ofir Katz, and Ariel Kallner, prefer the committee method as it could improve their positions on the list. Yesterday, it was reported that some Likud candidates fear senior ministers support canceling the primaries to avoid being placed in unrealistic list positions.

Two days ago, Likud CEO David Sharan informed primary candidates they could submit their candidacies. Earlier this week, several ministers and MKs urged Netanyahu not to cancel the primaries, citing significant campaign expenses based on an expected budget of about 370,000 shekels. They warned that canceling would leave them unable to meet financial commitments.

If the list is set by the organizing committee, it will include Netanyahu and five mayors. Potential committee members discussed so far are Haim Bibas (chair of the Local Government Center and mayor of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut), Tzvika Brot (mayor of Bat Yam), and Beni Biton (mayor of Dimona). Other possible members include Shay Hajaj (chair of the Regional Councils Center and head of the Merhavim Regional Council), Yaakov Peretz (mayor of Kiryat Ata), and Yehiel Zohar (mayor of Netivot).

Netanyahu may cancel the primaries citing a "wartime situation," and some Likud MKs have been urged to withdraw from the primaries in exchange for positions within the party.