Likud constitution committee set to postpone primaries to early August; Netanyahu demands 11 reserved slots

The Likud Constitution Committee is expected to formally decide Sunday evening to postpone party primaries to early August, according to party sources. The decision follows a meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Haim Katz that failed to reach agreement on the election method, with Netanyahu demanding 11 reserved slots until the 40th place on the list, and Katz pushing back.

The Likud Constitution Committee is set to convene at the Knesset this evening to formally postpone party primaries, originally scheduled no later than July 28, to early August, according to party sources cited by multiple Israeli media outlets. The move follows a meeting earlier Sunday between Prime Minister Netanyahu and committee chairman Haim Katz that ended without agreement on the election method.

During the meeting, Netanyahu insisted on 11 reserved slots (shiryonim) up to the 40th place on the party list, saying he needs to "change the face of the party" and increase the party's seat count. Minister Katz argued the number was too high and that the Likud Central Committee would not approve it. Netanyahu responded with what was described as a half-threat, half-joke: "If they don't want me, I can get up and leave with my own framework."

The evening session is expected to be declaratory in nature — formalizing the delay — with a follow-up meeting to be scheduled to resolve the method dispute. As The Zioneer has reported over the past weeks, the primaries process has been repeatedly delayed amid tensions between Netanyahu's demand for unprecedented control over the list and opposition from senior party figures like Katz and others.

2 developments

1. 2 hours ago · 17:03 · 28 JunLatest

   Primaries postponed to early August; Netanyahu demands 11 reserved slots.

2. 16:09 · 28 Jun

   Likud Constitution Committee postpones Sunday vote amid disputes

• Strong17:17 · 17 JunLikud Constitution Committee summoned for Tuesday; chairman Haim Katz moves to force primaries
• Developing15:26 · 21 JunLikud Constitution Committee delays primaries debate to Thursday amid legal shifts
• Developing4 days ago · 11:29 · 24 JunLikud Constitution Committee to meet Sunday to discuss primaries and reserved slots
• Strong1 hour ago · 18:00 · 28 JunLikud Constitution Committee unanimously confirms August 4 primaries

Source and signal

• Internal intake