Likud MK David Bitan told party members Wednesday that the proposal to be presented at the party convention Thursday is from Constitution Committee chairman Haim Katz, not Prime Minister Netanyahu. He argued that the committee elected 15 years ago does not represent current members, and the requested reserved slots are also intended for other parties. "This will not lift Likud up, it will bring us down," Bitan warned, according to N12.
MK David Bitan (Likud) on Wednesday directly addressed Likud members, warning that the proposal to be presented at the party convention on Thursday is the work of Constitution Committee chairman Haim Katz, not Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and that it will damage the party. According to N12's Dafna Liel, Bitan told members that the committee elected 15 years ago does not represent them, and that the reserved slots being sought are also intended for other parties. "This will not lift Likud up, it will bring us down," he said.
Bitan's statement is the latest in a months-long internal Likud battle over the party's primary election method. As The Zioneer has reported, Bitan filed an urgent petition to the Likud party court in June to block an "arranging committee" that would bypass primaries. The Constitution Committee, chaired by Katz, has been at the center of the dispute, with Katz summoning meetings and denying he is promoting an arranging committee. The party court has set deadlines for the committee to present regulations, but the committee missed a deadline earlier this month.
The convention vote on Thursday will determine whether the party adopts the proposal with eight reserved slots for the prime minister, or alternative proposals. Bitan's warning suggests deep internal opposition to the current proposal, which he argues serves other parties and does not benefit Likud.
3 developments
- StrongNetanyahu and Likud MK Bitan clash in Constitution Committee, Bitan storms out
- DevelopingLikud MK Bitan accuses Netanyahu of leaking during internal meeting, warns against 'political elimination' of MKs
- DevelopingNetanyahu threatens to quit Likud unless granted 10 reserved Knesset slots
- StrongLikud confirms Netanyahu will run in next election, pushing back against Trump's doubts
Source and signal
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- Internal intake