Likud Members Vote on Netanyahu's Reserved Slots Proposal Amid Internal Disputes

After several delays and conflicts in recent weeks, Likud party members are voting today at 16 polling stations across Israel on the party's primary regulations. The vote includes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to reserve eight slots on the party list for the upcoming elections, mostly in realistic positions such as 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 23, 26, and 29. About a week and a half ago, the vote was canceled due to a temporary court injunction following a petition by the Social Forum within the National Labor Federation. Last week, after a late-night Likud court hearing, the vote was postponed again.

Yesterday, several ministers and Knesset members released videos urging delegates to support Netanyahu's proposal, while MK David Bitan leads the opposition. The Likud Constitution Committee approved Netanyahu's suggested changes to the primary system by majority vote, allowing ministers, deputy ministers, and current MKs to run in districts. The final district boundaries will be set based on the voter registry on July 26, and gender representation guarantees will be maintained with adjustments if fewer women are elected by slot 14. Netanyahu was also authorized to form a five-mayor committee to manage elections if wartime restrictions limit gatherings.

Netanyahu told the delegates he supports primaries but warned that an exceptional security situation could disrupt the voting process. During a heated committee meeting two weeks ago, Bitan walked out after a confrontation with Netanyahu, who challenged Bitan to lead and bring mandates, asserting his own leadership. Bitan responded by recalling his past support for Netanyahu.

Reports from Channel 13 revealed Netanyahu privately doubts the current list can secure governance and is deliberately delaying the process to limit full primaries. Some MKs, including Eli Revivo and Osher Shklyim, were reportedly offered positions in exchange for withdrawing from the primaries.