Senior Likud figures and petitioner Dor Harlef allege that Prime Minister Netanyahu's aides are concealing from him the party court's explicit ruling that he has the authority to unilaterally submit primary regulations to the convention under Article 88, bypassing the Constitution Committee. The committee, chaired by Haim Katz, postponed its mandated Tuesday 13:00 deadline to Thursday, prompting accusations of foot-dragging and contempt of court.
The internal battle over Likud's primary election mechanism has entered a new phase, with party members making allegations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's inner circle is withholding critical information from him. Petitioner Dor Harlef, a candidate in the Tel Aviv district, and other party sources claim that aides are hiding the full implications of the party court's recent ruling. The court determined that Netanyahu, as party chairman, has clear authority under Article 88 of the Likud constitution to submit his own proposed regulations directly to the party convention for a vote — even without approval from the Constitution Committee headed by Minister Haim Katz.
Despite the court's explicit Tuesday 13:00 deadline for the Constitution Committee to adopt regulations, the committee adjourned to Thursday, citing the prime minister's schedule. In response, Harlef filed a sharp objection to any further delay, arguing that the committee's foot-dragging constitutes contempt of court. He asserts that Netanyahu should exercise his Article 88 power directly at Thursday's convention session rather than appear before the recalcitrant committee, which he accuses of bad-faith efforts to stall the process.
The dispute escalated Monday night with a late-hour appeal from attorney Zvi Bombach — on behalf of Katz and party institutions — seeking to delay the court's deadline to midnight between Thursday and Friday. The request argued that the committee's work was not yet complete. Harlef and his co-petitioners oppose any extension, noting that the petition was originally filed six months ago to enforce the party constitution requiring primaries six months before a general election.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Netanyahu himself visited Katz's home in Shoham late Monday, where an understanding was reached: the prime minister would receive the reserved slots (shiryonim) he demands, and in return, MK Eti Atiya — a Katz ally — would be enabled to run within the district framework. Harlef criticized the prime minister for humbling himself to Katz's home, arguing it was unnecessary given the prime minister's superior legal position.
As The Zioneer has previously reported in several bulletins over the past three weeks, the Likud primaries process has been marked by repeated delays and legal maneuvering. A Jerusalem District Court hearing is also scheduled later this week, and the party convention is expected to convene Thursday regardless of the Constitution Committee's output. The outcome remains uncertain: either the committee produces a consensual proposal, or Netanyahu submits his own directly to the convention floor — a move that could trigger further internal turmoil.
2 developments
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- DevelopingNetanyahu offers Likud MKs specific reserved list slots amid infighting
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Source and signal
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- Internal intake