Likud Court Reviews Narrow Vote Margin Amid Allegations of Irregularities

The Likud party's internal court is currently examining new information regarding last week's vote at the Likud Central Committee on proposals submitted by party leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Central Committee chairman Haim Katz. A senior source at the party's headquarters in Masu'ot Ze'ev indicated that if the new information proves significant and accurate, it could lead to the annulment of the vote results or a repeat vote.

The vote approved Netanyahu and Katz's proposal granting the prime minister eight reserved spots on the party's Knesset list, as well as changes to the primary election regulations. However, the initiative allowing current ministers and Knesset members to run in specific districts passed by a razor-thin margin of just two votes. Initially, the protocol recorded a five-vote margin (1,678 in favor versus 1,673 against), but the official tally submitted to the court showed the margin was only two votes.

Following the vote, numerous petitions were filed alleging irregularities, fraud, and the removal of observers from polling stations. Due to the seriousness of these claims, Likud's court president, former MK Michael Kleiner, appointed an expanded panel of five judges, including lawyers Akiva Nof, Yitzhak Bam, Rafi Boker, and David Elbaz, to review the petitions.

Among the petitions is one filed by Likud MK David Bitan, who called for a swift and thorough investigation into multiple serious irregularities during the party conference vote. Bitan, through attorney Yifat Meirovitz Yafet, alleged that polling committee workers were instructed not to record objections in the protocol, violating election regulations. He also cited examples where valid votes against Netanyahu and Katz's proposal were counted as invalid, while invalid votes in favor were counted as valid.

Additional petitions include one from Likud activist Dor Harlap, supported by affidavits from observers at polling stations in Kfar Saba, Petah Tikva, and Beersheba. The court is expected to discuss these petitions imminently, with a recount likely ordered for the contested section of the ballot.