Netanyahu's Proposals Lead Narrow Victory in Likud District Conference Vote

After counting about half of the ballots at the Likud party conference, a broad majority appears to support most of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposals. The key votes took place on Monday evening, with three main proposals being approved so far. The most contentious issue was the proposal to allow Knesset members and ministers to run in different districts, which is expected to be decided by a very narrow margin.

This particular proposal has been one of the most divisive within the Likud Central Committee, with Netanyahu and Central Committee Chairman Haim Katz pushing for its approval. The internal party struggle over this issue has been ongoing for several months. The vote count is not yet final.

Earlier in the evening, the ballot boxes closed after a notably high turnout. Out of 4,662 eligible voters, 3,395 delegates participated, representing a 72.82% turnout. Party officials expressed satisfaction with this figure, interpreting it as a positive sign for the upcoming Likud primaries scheduled for August 17.

The proposals on party bylaws and reserved slots are expected to pass with a large majority, while the district candidacy proposal remains the closest contest. The results will shape the internal structure and candidate selection process within the Likud party moving forward.