The Likud Constitution Committee voted to approve Prime Minister Netanyahu's proposal, granting him eight reserved slots on the party list and the authority to modify electoral districts, according to Israel Hayom. During the vote, Netanyahu clashed with MK David Bitan, telling him 'You are welcome to run, let's see how many mandates you bring,' prompting Bitan to walk out of the meeting.
The Likud Constitution Committee approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal Monday evening, granting him eight reserved slots on the party list and the authority to modify electoral districts, Israel Hayom reports. The vote was marked by a heated exchange between Netanyahu and MK David Bitan, who walked out after the prime minister challenged him to run and see how many mandates he could secure.
Earlier Monday, at 16:50 Jerusalem, The Zioneer published multiple reports detailing the evolving proposals: Netanyahu's initial offer of eight reserved slots with primaries set for August 17, a compromise proposal by Minister Haim Katz that also authorized the PM to adjust districts from positions 29 to 33, and the committee's eventual approval of the Katz plan. At 17:44, The Zioneer reported the committee's official approval of the eight reserved slots, and at 17:50, the clash between Netanyahu and Bitan was confirmed. The new detail confirmed in this update is the inclusion of the district-modification authority in the final vote—a power that had been part of the Katz proposal but was not highlighted in the immediate approval reports.
The internal Likud battle over the list has been simmering for weeks. As The Zioneer reported on June 23, Netanyahu threatened to leave the party unless granted 10 reserved slots, sparking fierce debate. Subsequent proposals, including one by Katz, sought to balance Netanyahu's demands with party members' interests. Sunday's vote on two competing frameworks set the stage for Monday's final decision, which solidifies Netanyahu's control over the list and district configuration.
The exact composition of the list and the specific district boundaries remain subject to Netanyahu's authority—the implementation of the district adjustments has not been detailed, and the final list will be determined in primaries scheduled for August 17, barring further changes.
7 developments
- StrongNetanyahu, Katz nearing agreement on Likud reserved slots ahead of primaries
- DevelopingNetanyahu threatens to quit Likud unless granted 10 reserved Knesset slots
- ConfirmedNetanyahu demands roughly 10 slots on Likud list for next Knesset, warns current lineup 'will not bring government'
- DevelopingNetanyahu offers compromise Likud list proposal, reserving slots up to #25 for loyalists
Source and signal
- Internal intake