Likud Court to Announce Key Ruling on Primaries Amid Leadership Change

Just before the Likud party's primary election decision, a significant change has occurred in the party's court leadership. Michael Kleiner, the head of the Likud court, who was expected to issue rulings on the primaries today, will be replaced by an acting judge due to unrelated developments. This change comes as the court prepares to rule on petitions challenging the primary results, particularly the controversial decision allowing incumbent Knesset members and ministers to run in regional districts rather than on the national list.

The petitions were discussed in court yesterday, focusing on the legitimacy of the voting outcomes at the party conference. In response to the challenges, Likud has established a special committee to swiftly examine the claims and provide resolutions. The forthcoming court decision is critical as it will determine the eligibility of sitting lawmakers and ministers to compete in district-based primaries, potentially impacting the party's candidate list for the 2026 elections.

The party is preparing to publish the court's decision soon, which will be delivered by the newly appointed acting judge. This ruling will clarify the rules for candidate placement within the party's primaries and address the disputes arising from the recent party conference vote.