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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Chaos within Likud: Primary battle deepens as party court questions leadership's conduct - analysis

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Likud Supreme Court is scrutinizing the party's handling of its primary election rules, with a member criticizing the Constitution Committee's process and demanding responses to petitions.
  • Petitions seek to delay the vote on primary rules, challenge the eligibility of New Hope members, and ensure the 2022 primary rules are considered.
  • The court's ruling raises questions about whether last-minute rule presentations would undermine the convention's role in approving primary procedures.

Internal conflict is brewing within Israel's Likud party as its Supreme Court member, Attorney Yitzhak Bam, issued a sharp criticism of the party's Constitution Committee's handling of its primary election rules. The ruling came just hours before the committee was set to convene, following three petitions filed over the preceding 24 hours.

Bam ordered the movement's legal adviser to respond by Monday afternoon, leaving open the possibility of an emergency hearing. The petitions, filed by Yehuda Sharper and others, MK David Bitan, and Tzvial Rubin, all challenge aspects of the primary process. Key demands include delaying the vote on the rules, questioning the eligibility of New Hope members to participate, and ensuring the 2022 primary rules are included as an option.

despite the court's decision... the Constitution Committee has still not completed its work.

— Yitzhak BamLikud Supreme Court member criticizing the committee's delay in finalizing primary rules.

Petitioners argue that the Constitution Committee, headed by Minister Haim Katz, has failed to comply with previous court rulings and extensions. They point out that the draft rules have not been published, and convention delegates have not received the proposals they are expected to vote on, despite the convention's scheduled meeting. Bam expressed difficulty accepting this reality, emphasizing that delegates need sufficient time to review proposals before the convention votes.

The core of the dispute centers on the demand to keep the 2022 primary rules in effect if the Constitution Committee fails to finalize its work on time. Alternatively, petitioners want the convention to consider proposals not yet examined by the committee. Bam also questioned whether delegates could vote separately on disputed issues rather than choosing between complete rule packages, a move that could significantly alter the primary outcome.

We have reached July 13, and there is no draft rules proposal, and the Constitution Committee meeting is scheduled for midday. It is difficult to accept this reality. The convention is the body that approves the rules, and not a blank stamp.

— Yitzhak BamExpressing frustration over the lack of preparedness for the Likud convention's vote on primary rules.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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