The voting on the Netanyahu-Katz proposal for eight reserved slots on the Likud list begins at noon Thursday. MK David Bitan's competing proposal, which offered only three slots, was not brought to a vote. Bitan said he will work to gather opposition to defeat the proposal.
The Likud party convention is set to open its polls at 12:00 Jerusalem time on Thursday for a vote on the Netanyahu-Katz proposal, which grants Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu eight reserved slots on the party list and substantial control over the slate. The competing proposal by MK David Bitan, which would have limited Netanyahu to three reserved slots, was not brought to a vote, as reported by N12's Dafna Liel. Bitan told the channel he will work to rally opposition to defeat the proposal.
This development follows a series of reports by The Zioneer. At 10:09 Thursday, the desk reported that the convention was set to vote on the proposal. On Wednesday at 16:17, the desk reported that the convention would vote on Thursday, with two proposals on the ballot: the Netanyahu-Katz plan and a reservation by Haim Katz requiring ministers and MKs to run in districts. A subsequent update at the same time noted that Bitan's proposal was excluded from the vote. The background also includes earlier reports: on Mon Jul 13, the desk reported that Netanyahu had reserved one of the eight slots for Katz; on Tue Jul 14, MK Avichai Buaron stated that Netanyahu would receive eight reserved slots.
The vote is the latest chapter in a weeks-long internal power struggle within Likud over the allocation of reserved slots. As The Zioneer reported on Jun 22, senior party figures resisted Netanyahu's initial demand for 10 reserved slots, with some preferring an arranging committee. On Jun 23, Netanyahu threatened to quit the party unless granted 10 reserved slots. On Jun 28, Netanyahu and Katz were nearing an agreement, with assessments suggesting Netanyahu would secure eight reserved positions. On Jul 1, Netanyahu offered a compromise proposal reserving slots up to #25 for loyalists.
The outcome of the vote remains uncertain. Bitan has said he will work to defeat the proposal, and the Katz reservation faces significant opposition from activists. Voting continues until 20:00 at 17 branches nationwide, and results are expected later tonight. The vote is closely watched as a measure of Netanyahu's control over the party.
5 developments
- StrongLikud Constitution Committee to convene Thursday without Netanyahu, then with him, following Bitan petition
- StrongNetanyahu, Katz nearing agreement on Likud reserved slots ahead of primaries
- StrongLikud meeting: Katz insists only female MKs for districts, Netanyahu considers male MKs
- StrongLikud convention reportedly postponed to Thursday, primaries to mid-August
Source and signal
- Internal intake