Likud panel to vote on primary changes, expanding Netanyahu's party control

The Likud party's Constitution Committee is reconvening on Sunday to vote on proposed changes to its primary system, a move that would significantly bolster Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's influence over the party's Knesset list ahead of upcoming elections. This follows a controversial decision last week by the committee to grant Netanyahu authority over eight reserved slots on the list, drawn from the top 31 positions. However, a Lod District Court injunction, issued after a petition against the changes, halted a planned vote by the broader Likud Central Committee.

Netanyahu himself attended the Sunday meeting, underscoring the importance he places on these reforms. He reportedly met with Likud local authority heads, proposing an "exemption clause" to cancel primaries during security crises. This push for greater control, however, is meeting fierce internal resistance. For years, Likud has emphasized its member-driven primary system, allowing over 100,000 registered members to vote for the Knesset list. Canceling or reserving slots represents a major departure from this tradition.

Senior Likud figures, including Construction and Housing Minister Haim Katz and MK David Bitan, have voiced objections to the proposed changes. Reports suggest Netanyahu has been actively working to bridge these disagreements, even threatening to leave the party if the reforms are not advanced. The primaries themselves have already been postponed twice, from August 8 to August 17, reflecting the ongoing internal tensions and Netanyahu's efforts to secure support for reshaping the party's selection process. Some of the reserved slots could potentially go to prominent figures like Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and former finance minister Moshe Kahlon.

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he wanted to add an "exemption clause" to cancel the primaries in the case of a security crisis