Only 24% Vote So Far in Likud Primaries Amid Allegations and Tensions

As of Monday, 34,262 Likud party members have voted in the party's primaries, representing 24.12% of approximately 142,000 eligible voters. Polling stations across Israel remain open until 9:00 PM. The voting process has been marked by several disputes and unusual claims from candidates.

Knesset member Tali Gottlieb accused some polling stations of using forged ballots that omit her name, linking the incident to internal party power struggles. She urged voters to remain vigilant and warned that any ballot with forgery would be disqualified. Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Miri Regev claimed that El Al airline is working against her in the primaries due to her efforts to introduce the low-cost airline Wizz Air to Israel. Regev said El Al distributed a list to its members instructing them not to support her, describing it as an attempt at blackmail and intimidation.

A significant turnout was noted among ultra-Orthodox Likud members, with hundreds voting at various polling stations. Estimates suggest about 7,000 ultra-Orthodox members are registered in Likud, including groups from the Hasidic sects of Satmar, Vizhnitz, Gur, Karlin, and Belz, as well as members from the Knesset-affiliated "Kisei Rahamim" community and organizations like ZAKA and United Hatzalah. Groups connected to Shlomi Amnon also participated.

In Elad, tensions escalated when ultra-Orthodox residents covered photos of female candidates and shouted at others, prompting Likud officials to leave the site citing modesty concerns. Former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon voted in Haifa earlier in the day. Recent party polls identified Kahlon as the figure most associated with addressing the cost of living.

Regional Cooperation Minister Dudi Amsalem voted at the Government Complex in Jerusalem and highlighted the democratic nature of the primaries, stating he fought hard for this process. When asked about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's involvement in the internal elections, Amsalem declined to comment, emphasizing the celebratory nature of the day.

The primaries continue amid these controversies and high engagement from various party factions, with final results expected after polls close at 9:00 PM.