Likud panel set to vote on changing primary system, expanding Netanyahu’s control over party list

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for significant changes to the Likud party's primary system, a move that could grant him greater authority in determining the top ranks of the party's Knesset list ahead of upcoming elections. The Likud Constitution Committee is scheduled to vote on these proposed alterations on Monday, with Netanyahu expected to attend and cast his vote.

However, the proposed changes have ignited internal opposition from prominent Likud figures, including Construction and Housing Minister Haim Katz and MK David Bitan. These senior members have voiced objections to altering the established primary process, fearing it could negatively impact their positions on the party list. Reports indicate Netanyahu has engaged in multiple meetings with Katz in an effort to bridge these disagreements.

Further complicating the situation, several Likud lawmakers have reportedly received calls from associates of Netanyahu, suggesting they withdraw from the primaries in exchange for appointed positions. This alleged tactic aims to consolidate support for the proposed system changes. The vote itself has been postponed multiple times, fueling speculation about Netanyahu's efforts to secure internal backing.

Some of the reserved slots could reportedly be allocated to figures like Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and former finance minister Moshe Kahlon. The proposed changes have also drawn sharp criticism from MK Tally Gotliv, who views them as an attempt to undermine the democratic process within the party. Gotliv specifically accused Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defense Minister Israel Katz of working behind the scenes to cancel primaries in favor of a selection committee that would preserve their own power.

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Two cowardly ministers are behind the disgraceful idea of canceling Likud's primaries, Yariv Levin and Israel Katz. They'll deny it, but they're working on a mechanism for a selection committee that will preserve their own power.