Likud Court to Hear Appeals Challenging Primary Election Results and Candidate Eligibility

The Likud party's internal court is set to begin hearings today at 1:00 PM on multiple appeals filed against the results of the party's primary elections. Central to the appeals is the controversial decision allowing incumbent Knesset members to run in various regional districts during the primaries. To address these challenges swiftly, Likud has established a special committee led by retired judge Naaman, who also chairs the party's election committee. This panel includes three additional members from the election, finance, and constitution committees to ensure an objective review.

One prominent appeal was submitted by attorney Yair Gabay, a candidate in the Jerusalem district, who argues that the approval of the clause permitting sitting Knesset members to run in districts was invalid because it passed with only a simple majority of five votes rather than the required two-thirds majority under Likud's constitution. Gabay claims this provision creates inequality by giving incumbents, who have access to significant public resources such as state budgets and staff, an unfair advantage over other candidates.

Another urgent appeal was filed by Channel 14 commentator and Likud primary candidate Eddy Cohen, who challenges the eligibility of MK Tzaga Malka to run in the party's "new immigrants" slot. Cohen contends that according to Likud's rules, a new immigrant is defined as someone who immigrated to Israel after 1993, whereas Malka immigrated about a decade earlier, making her ineligible for this reserved position. Cohen's appeal seeks to disqualify Malka from this slot, asserting that her inclusion violates the party's election regulations.

These appeals come amid preparations for the 2026 Knesset elections, with the Likud party aiming to resolve disputes quickly to proceed with the primaries. The court's decisions will have significant implications for candidate eligibility and the fairness of the party's internal election process.