Likud Faces Internal Crisis After Court Cancels Reserved Seats Clause Ahead of Primaries

A sharp legal and political crisis is unfolding within Israel's Likud party following the internal court's decision to annul the "districts clause," which reserved certain primary election slots for ministers and Knesset members. This ruling prevents sitting ministers, deputy ministers, and MKs from running for these reserved positions unless they resign from their parliamentary roles. The decision disrupts plans promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Haim Katz, dealing a significant blow to Katz and his allies.

In response, senior Likud officials are considering appealing the ruling to the district court with the help of the party's legal advisor, attorney Ilan Bombach. However, this potential move has sparked fierce opposition within the party. Opponents warn that if Bombach files such an appeal, they will immediately file a complaint against him with the Israel Bar Association's Ethics Committee, accusing him of crossing an ethical line by challenging the party's internal judicial body in external courts.

The controversy has intensified internal debates about the legal and political strategies available to the party leadership. The dispute highlights deep divisions within Likud over the handling of the upcoming 2026 primaries and the balance of power between the party's judicial institutions and its leadership. The situation remains fluid as the party braces for a possible unprecedented confrontation involving its top ranks and the Israel Bar Association.