Criminal Allegations Emerge in Likud Primaries Over Ballot Irregularities in Be'er Ya'akov

Yuval Karni, political correspondent for Yedioth Ahronoth, reported on Wednesday about a significant controversy within the Likud party concerning the primary elections. A senior Likud official described the ballot box incident in Be'er Ya'akov as a "criminal event." The party's election committee convened the previous evening to address claims of irregularities, including data entry errors and discrepancies found in several polling stations, which could affect the ranking of candidates on the party list.

The focal point of the dispute is the Be'er Ya'akov ballot box, where votes were recounted. This issue is particularly critical due to the tight competition for the 25th spot on the list reserved for a female candidate, contested between Knesset members Gila Gamliel and Eti Atiya, the latter supported by Minister Haim Katz. Atiya has been reviewing other polling stations where discrepancies between protocols and system data were detected. Current tallies show Atiya surpassing Knesset members Amit Halevi and Avichai Boaron in ranking.

If significant errors are confirmed in the Be'er Ya'akov ballot box, it could further impact the contest between Atiya and Gamliel. The close race for the third female slot on the list is expected to continue intensifying in the coming days. Due to mutual accusations and alleged irregularities, the final decision on which candidate will secure the realistic Knesset seat has been transferred to the party's disciplinary court, prompting yet another recount.