Likud MK Gila Gamliel Files Police Complaint Over Recount Dispute in Party Primaries

Likud Member of Knesset Gila Gamliel filed a police complaint on Wednesday concerning the decision to conduct a recount of ballots in the Likud primaries at polling stations in Be'er Ya'akov. The complaint was directed against David Sharan, CEO of Likud, MK Haim Katz, and a security chief. Katz responded on social media by providing the address of the Lahav 433 police unit, implying readiness to address any claims.

The Likud party announced the recount following Gamliel's petition to the party's Supreme Court seeking an injunction to prevent the recount at Be'er Ya'akov. The recount could potentially demote Gamliel to the fourth tenth place on the Likud list for the Knesset, allowing Eti Atiya to enter in the 25th spot instead.

Gamliel's petition argued that the Central Elections Committee's decision to recount ballot box number 101101 in Be'er Ya'akov could directly and immediately harm her candidacy. She requested the court to prohibit the recount until a final ruling or, alternatively, to conduct a comprehensive and equal recount across all polling stations nationwide where irregularities were suspected, not just in Be'er Ya'akov.

The petition also claimed that the ballots from Be'er Ya'akov were held for eight days by the Likud administration after being counted and recorded, while election results were already public. This delay, according to the petition, raises serious concerns about the integrity of the ballot boxes. Gamliel described the recount process as "tainted."