Disputed Votes Could Shift Likud List Order, David Bitan May Overtake Boaz Bismuth

During the Likud party elections, about 100 members were allowed to vote with double envelopes at polling stations in Jerusalem and Ashdod despite not meeting the required membership duration due to technical issues. Approximately 50 of these members actually voted, but their ballots have not yet been included in the official final count. Once counted, these votes could alter the rankings at the bottom of the party list, specifically between positions 14 and 15. David Bitan is expected to surpass Boaz Bismuth, who previously led by only 16 votes.

The disputed votes are linked to supporters of Yonatan Tal, an ally of Minister Miki Zohar and the Alboim family, associated with the 'Guardians of the Temple Mount' faction. Tal challenged the inclusion of these votes by claiming to Likud CEO David Sharan that the approved voters' names did not match the submitted membership lists. Bitan denied these allegations, accusing Tal of lying.

In response to the dispute, Likud's Court President, Attorney Michael Kleiner, ordered a freeze on counting the contested ballots until Tal submits an official affidavit by 7 p.m. If the affidavit is provided, the vote count will remain frozen pending a hearing before a three-judge panel. If the votes are validated and counted, Bitan will move ahead of Bismuth, who is known as a Netanyahu loyalist.