Netanyahu Grants Primary Exemption to Defense Minister Israel Katz for Likud Election

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has granted a reserved spot on the Likud party list to Defense Minister Israel Katz, exempting him from participating in the party primaries. Legal correspondent Avishai Greenzeit revealed that the Likud legal advisor, Bumbach, and party CEO Sharan presented arguments to the Likud court justifying the exemption as being "for the good of the movement." The request cited Katz's recent political maneuvers and emphasized the need for continuity in leadership during a challenging security period. Notably, just an hour before the court hearing, Katz announced on Channel 14 the dismissal of Avi Blot and his replacement by Dado Bar Kalifa. The court was asked to consider the party's best interests in granting Katz the exemption.

This decision surprised many, including some Likud Knesset members who criticized it as unfair to voters. Supporters of the move argued that Katz's demanding security responsibilities, including extensive preparation for meetings with the Prime Minister and the security cabinet, justify the exemption. They stressed that Israel requires a full-time defense minister, not one distracted by campaign events such as bar mitzvahs and weddings. Neither the Defense Minister's office, the Likud legal advisor, nor the party CEO provided comments on the matter.