Dispute Over Likud Primaries Intensifies After Recount Shifts Candidate Rankings

The controversy surrounding the Likud party primaries has escalated into a heated political and legal battle between two factions within the party. Following a recount of ballots, Minister Haim Katz claims that Eti Atiya has surpassed Minister Gila Gamliel, securing her spot on the party list. If officially confirmed, this change would push Gamliel to an unrealistic position on the Likud Knesset list, effectively jeopardizing her chances of election.

In response, Gamliel's camp strongly rejects the recount results, accusing the process of being entirely improper and alleging that "the count was falsified in secret." The fierce competition between the two candidates centers on the third female slot on the party list, a key position for securing a Knesset seat.

Given the mutual accusations and the alleged irregularities, the final decision on which candidate will occupy the realistic Knesset spot is expected to be made by the Likud party's internal court. The dispute is likely to continue unfolding in the coming days as both sides seek resolution.