Likud Challenges Sharren Haskel's Petition to Enforce Merger with New Hope in Supreme Court

The Likud party submitted a preliminary response on Wednesday to a petition filed by Knesset member Sharren Haskel, who demanded that Likud and New Hope complete their merger process. Likud seeks to dismiss the petition and the interim injunction request outright and to order Haskel to pay legal costs. The petition targets New Hope, Likud, and the Knesset, asking the court to compel the two factions to finalize their agreed merger and present it for Knesset committee approval.

Likud argues that Haskel's true intention is not to complete the merger but to enable her split from the factions and continue as a single-member faction. The party describes the petition as "cynical," aiming to force a merger not out of genuine interest but to facilitate her separation and secure independent party funding under the party financing law, a claim yet to be adjudicated.

According to Likud, the original merger plan was replaced by a joint electoral list agreement signed in March 2025, with full merger completion contingent on Likud's election regulations and Knesset committee approval. On July 14, 2026, the factions agreed to continue cooperation through a joint candidate list for the 26th Knesset elections rather than a full merger. Likud contends Haskel is attempting to impose the merger method despite the factions' mutual decision to pursue an alternative.

Likud also accuses Haskel of delay and bad faith, noting she was aware since June of the plan to run jointly without merging but filed her petition only on July 19, after the party financing law deadline and the Knesset's recess. They highlight that Haskel served as Deputy Foreign Minister until July 14 and remained active within New Hope during this period, inconsistent with her current demand to enforce the merger agreement.

Likud emphasizes that political agreements are generally not enforceable by court orders and that both parties chose an alternative cooperation path. The party requests the Supreme Court to reject the petition outright and award legal fees. The court has yet to rule on the matter.