Gila Gamliel Files Petition to Halt Recount in Bar Yaakov Amid Likud Primary Dispute

Minister Gila Gamliel has petitioned the Likud Supreme Court to stop the recount at a polling station in Bar Yaakov, which could affect the competition between her and MK Eti Atiya for the 25th spot on the party list. The Likud primaries have concluded, but disputes over the results continue as the party's election committee reviews claims of irregularities, data entry errors, and discrepancies found in several polling stations that might impact candidate rankings.

The recount in Bar Yaakov is central to the controversy, especially given the close race for the reserved female slot between Gamliel and Atiya, who is backed by Minister Haim Katz. Atiya has been examining polling stations with noted inconsistencies between protocols and the data entered into the system. Current tallies show Atiya surpassing MKs Amit Halevi and Avichai Boaron, and if significant errors are confirmed in Bar Yaakov, it could influence the contest against Gamliel.

Gamliel's petition requests an injunction to prevent the reopening of the Bar Yaakov polling station until the court rules on her claims. She argues that the ballots from Bar Yaakov were held for eight days at the Likud headquarters after results were published, raising concerns about the integrity of the election materials. She also contends that singling out Bar Yaakov for a recount is discriminatory, as other polling stations with similar complaints have not been subjected to recounts.

Furthermore, Gamliel accuses Minister Haim Katz of having a political interest in promoting the recount to benefit Atiya. She demands that if a recount proceeds, it should be conducted in all polling stations where errors were suspected, not just in Bar Yaakov. The Likud election committee is expected to continue deliberations on these issues in the coming days.