The Likud party's internal court has ruled that sitting MKs and ministers may only compete on the national list, effectively barring them from running in district slots, according to a report by Channel 14 political correspondent Mati Tuchfeld. The decision represents a setback for Likud Central Committee chairman Haim Katz, who had reportedly secured the party's primary regulations and reserved slots for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but was denied the concession he sought in return.
The Likud party's internal court on Tuesday ruled that sitting MKs and ministers may only run on the national list, effectively barring them from competing in district slots. The decision, reported by Channel 14 political correspondent Mati Tuchfeld, deals a new blow to party chairman Haim Katz, who had reportedly secured the primary regulations and reserved slots for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but was denied the one concession he asked in return.
According to the report, Katz had given Netanyahu the party's primary regulations and the reserved slots the prime minister demanded, but the court's ruling took away the specific mechanism Katz sought to secure his political position. The ruling appears to go further than a previous court decision earlier Tuesday, which had required MKs to resign before running for district slots. The new decision eliminates the district option entirely, according to the Channel 14 report.
The development comes amid weeks of internal turmoil in Likud over the composition of the Knesset list ahead of the October election. The party court had previously opened hearings on petitions challenging the district voting process, with disputes centered on the allocation of reserved slots and the ability of incumbents to run in districts. As The Zioneer has reported, the party has been grappling with demands from Netanyahu for up to 10 reserved slots, facing resistance from senior figures who viewed the move as an unprecedented consolidation of power.
The ruling is expected to significantly reshape the Likud faction. With MKs now limited to the national list, many incumbents face a choice between the security of the national list and the risk of stepping down to compete for a district slot. The party's primaries are set for August, and the national list is seen as a more stable path for veteran politicians. The decision also undermines Katz's ability to place his allies in district positions, potentially weakening his influence in the party.
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