Likud Court Upholds Haim Katz's Reserved Spot on Party List Ahead of Primaries

The Likud party's internal court has rejected a petition challenging the reserved placement of Haim Katz, chairman of the Likud Central Committee, on the party's Knesset list. The ruling confirms that Katz can be assigned a secured spot even before the primary elections take place. This decision follows a temporary injunction issued the previous day that halted the vote on Katz's reservation due to conflict of interest claims, as Katz is involved in the party's reservation approval mechanism from which he benefits.

The court clarified that the exceptional nature of Katz's reservation does not limit the authority granted under the party's election regulations, and there is no requirement to wait for primary results before making such appointments. The ruling also emphasized the need for greater transparency and procedural clarity in future reservation decisions, recommending that proposals be published clearly and members of the Likud secretariat be given at least 48 hours to review them before voting, except in urgent cases.

This reservation is part of a broader strategy led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to shape the Likud list for the upcoming Knesset elections. Alongside Katz, the secretariat approved the reservation of Defense Minister Israel Katz, while Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar is placed under a political agreement with the State Right faction. These moves are expected to significantly influence the primary competition and the number of open slots for candidates.

The court's decision removes the legal obstacle that threatened to delay the process, allowing the Likud secretariat vote on Katz's reservation to proceed as planned.