The Likud party's internal court ruled Tuesday night that sitting members of Knesset and ministers may not run for district-specific slots in the upcoming primaries unless they resign their current seats immediately, according to Channel 14.
The Likud party's internal court ruled Tuesday morning that sitting members of Knesset and ministers may not run for district-specific slots in the upcoming party primaries unless they resign their current seats immediately. The ruling, first reported by Channel 14, is expected to trigger a massive reshuffling of the party's Knesset faction. Political analyst Amit Segal (N12) assessed that at least half of the current faction will be outside the Knesset by next week, while Channel 14 correspondent Avraham Hasson reported that at least 20 sitting MKs are expected to be ejected, pending potential appeals.
The Zioneer's initial reporting on the ruling at 07:40 Jerusalem highlighted the immediate resignation requirement. Subsequent updates incorporated Segal's analysis and Hasson's specific figure of 20 MKs, corroborating Channel 14's initial report with multiple sources. The ruling prevents ministers and MKs from competing in regional districts without vacating their seats, effectively forcing a choice between a district slot and continued parliamentary service.
As The Zioneer reported in its Tuesday evening Eye on Zion bulletin, the decision is seen as a dramatic intervention that could reshape the Likud faction ahead of the upcoming elections. The ruling reportedly prevents Minister Haim Katz from promoting the candidacy of his associate MK Eti Atiya, indicating the court's willingness to enforce party discipline.
The exact number of resignations remains unclear, and appeals are expected. The timeline for the resignations—set for Tuesday—and the composition of the new faction will depend on the outcome of those appeals. The full implications of the court's decision are still unfolding.
7 developments
Source and signal
- Open-source intake