Likud Reveals Recording to Challenge Injunction Halting Party Primaries

The Likud party disclosed a recording from a closed session of its Constitution Committee to counter claims made by the Social Forum, led by attorney Arik Toito, which allegedly exploited a clerical error in the meeting minutes. This error reportedly misled the court into believing the Social Forum's demand for full primaries was approved, resulting in an injunction that stopped the election process just as polling stations were ready nationwide. The party claims this caused financial damage amounting to hundreds of thousands of shekels.

In the recording, Minister Haim Katz, who also chairs the Constitution Committee, is heard putting Toito's proposal to a vote and announcing, "Two in favor - everyone against," indicating the proposal was rejected despite the minutes stating otherwise. Katz further asserts that the proposal supported by Prime Minister Netanyahu and himself was actually approved by the committee.

Likud's legal advisor, attorney Ilan Bombach, sent a letter to the party's court accusing the Social Forum of acting in bad faith by submitting a misleading injunction request to the Lod District Court. Bombach emphasized that the injunction was based on false representations, causing significant harm to the party and its democratic processes. He noted the Constitution Committee is scheduled to reconvene on Sunday with the Prime Minister present to correct the factual error and seek to overturn the court's ruling.

Responding, the Social Forum, affiliated with the National Labor Federation, invited Likud's management and legal counsel to present their claims before the party court. They expressed respect for the court's authority and affirmed their commitment to representing the interests of 150,000 Likud members, describing themselves as the party's watchdog.