Serious Irregularities Alleged in Likud Primaries Vote Counting

Serious allegations of irregularities have emerged regarding the vote counting in the Likud party primaries, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the results and potentially affecting the parliamentary list composition. The suspicions surfaced after several Likud Members of Knesset (MKs) reviewed the protocols at the party headquarters in Metzada Ze'ev, uncovering significant discrepancies between the vote tally sheets and the final summaries.

One notable case involves MK Eti Atiya, whose recorded votes jumped suspiciously from zero on the initial tally sheets to 127 in the final count at a polling station in Kisra-Sumei. Other candidates also showed large inconsistencies, such as one MK who had 94 votes on the tally sheet but only 3 in the final summary. Additionally, there were reports of irregular approvals allowing 100 individuals to vote using double envelopes in Ashdod and Jerusalem, linked to confusion over membership registration updates by former Likud CEO Tzuri Siso.

Further concerns were raised about the security company Reshef Bitahon, which managed the voting process, and its connections to Likud management and MK Haim Katz. The discrepancies and irregularities have prompted calls for a thorough investigation, with a decisive hearing scheduled for the Likud party court tomorrow to address these issues.

These developments come amid a tense atmosphere as the vote count could significantly alter the party's candidate list, potentially pushing MK Gila Gamliel out of the Knesset. The situation continues to unfold as party officials and members await the court's ruling on the validity of the primary results.