Netanyahu Faces Backlash in Likud Over Reserved Knesset Seats for Katz Duo

Following the Likud party's late-night announcement reserving Knesset seats for Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and party center chairman Haim Katz, significant outrage erupted within the party. While Sa'ar's reserved seat was expected and less controversial, the reservations for the two Katz ministers sparked accusations of coercion and corruption. Several Likud ministers and MKs accused Israel Katz and Haim Katz of pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure their positions in exchange for approving Netanyahu's own reserved seats. A senior Likud official described the situation as a "scandal," claiming Israel Katz blackmailed Netanyahu by demanding a reserved seat. Another minister called it "an outrageous takeover by party operatives and blatant corruption."

Party insiders revealed that Haim Katz feared losing his spot in the primaries and pressured Netanyahu for a reserved seat, while Israel Katz allegedly justified his demand on security grounds. The anger extends beyond Netanyahu to the Katz duo, with one party member labeling them as "cowards hiding behind the Prime Minister." The Likud party statement explained that the party's secretariat would be asked to approve these reserved seats alongside Netanyahu's, citing a recent party court ruling that mandated reserving a seat for the Defense Minister to allow him to focus on security matters rather than politics. Sa'ar's placement is part of a unity agreement between his faction and Likud, while Katz's reservation is linked to his role as party center chairman. The controversy highlights internal tensions over candidate placements ahead of upcoming elections.