Gila Gamliel Files Petition to Halt Recount in Likud Primaries Over Alleged Irregularities

Likud MK and Minister Gila Gamliel filed a petition on Tuesday to the party's Supreme Court seeking to block a recount of ballots at a polling station in Be'er Ya'akov. The recount could push her down to 33rd place on the Likud list for the Knesset, allowing candidate Eti Atiya to move up to 25th place.

Gamliel's petition argues that the Likud Central Election Committee's decision to recount ballot box number 101101 in Be'er Ya'akov threatens her candidacy directly and immediately. She requests the court to prohibit the recount until the petition is resolved or, alternatively, to conduct a comprehensive and equal recount at all polling stations nationwide where irregularities were suspected, not just in Be'er Ya'akov.

The petition claims the ballot boxes in Be'er Ya'akov were held by the Likud administration for eight days after initial counting and results were entered into the database, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the ballots. Gamliel also accuses the committee of selective enforcement, as no recounts were ordered in other polling stations with alleged irregularities, violating the principle of equality among candidates.

Furthermore, the petition alleges political interference by Minister Haim Katz, who is named as a respondent alongside the Likud Central Election Committee, Likud administration, and Eti Atiya. Katz is accused of promoting the recount to benefit Atiya's chances.

According to the petition, after counting 99.4% of the ballots, Gamliel led Atiya by 561 votes, and after 100% the lead was 553 votes. However, the final Excel results showed the gap narrowed to 424 votes, indicating Atiya gained an additional 129 votes after all ballots were counted. Gamliel demands the court cancel the recount decision or hold a renewed hearing with all relevant parties, including herself and the ballot committee members, warning that the recount under current conditions risks distorting the election results rather than clarifying the truth.