Israeli Supreme Court Rejects Sharren Haskel's Petition Against Likud-Tikva Hadasha Merger

The Israeli Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by former Deputy Foreign Minister and Knesset member Sharren Haskel against the merger of the Likud and Tikva Hadasha factions. Haskel sought to prevent the implementation of the merger agreement without completing the formal legal procedures or to compel the factions to submit the merger for Knesset committee approval. The court, led by President Isaac Amit and a panel of three judges, rejected the petition citing significant delay in filing, noting the merger agreement was signed in March 2025 but Haskel only raised the issue in July 2026, just days before the critical date for election funding. This delay made it impossible to resolve the petition before the funding deadline.

The court also emphasized judicial restraint, stating it avoids interfering in political decisions unless the agreement is illegal or violates public order. The ruling highlighted the political nature of the merger between Likud and the National Right and underscored the principle of separation of powers. The judges found no grounds to intervene since there was no claim that the agreement was unlawful or against public policy.

Haskel resigned from her government post about a month prior, protesting the approval of a controversial immunity law for draft dodgers, which she viewed as undermining equality in national service obligations. Her resignation followed the Knesset's passage of the law amid ongoing political tensions over ultra-Orthodox conscription issues and coalition efforts to establish a new draft arrangement.