A source in the Likud party told the Friend website that the double envelope count in the internal primaries was exploited: individuals not on the voter registry were allowed to vote using affidavits submitted on behalf of Yonatan Tal. Tal reportedly denies that these were his people.
A new twist in the Likud internal primary dispute emerged Thursday morning when a party source told the Friend website that unauthorized individuals were allowed to cast double envelopes at Binyanei Ha'Uma using affidavits submitted on behalf of activist Yonatan Tal. According to the source, people not on the official voter registry voted in special envelopes based on these affidavits. Tal denied that the voters were his associates. The allegation adds a specific name to the earlier reports of irregular voting in the Likud primaries.
Earlier Thursday at 09:26 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported two simultaneous developments: the Likud internal court froze the vote count pending a sworn affidavit, with about 50 uncounted ballots that could allow MK David Bitan to overtake Netanyahu confidant Boaz Bismut at the bottom of the party list. At the same time, a Likud official supporting Bitan was alleged to have permitted individuals not on the voter registry to vote in a special ballot, with required forms never submitted to party headquarters. The reports painted a picture of escalating irregularities centered on Bitan's campaign.
The Likud internal election dispute has been unfolding for weeks. On August 10, The Zioneer reported that the party appealed a Tel Aviv District Court ruling, citing irregularities in a ballot box linked to Bitan. Earlier, on August 2, Bitan demanded a recount, stating he did not trust the party leadership, and the party spokesman responded to a report of a forgery check regarding Prime Minister Netanyahu's ballot.
Several questions remain open. The anonymous Likud source's account has not been independently confirmed, and Yonatan Tal's denial that the unauthorized voters were his people stands as an uncorroborated counterclaim. The status of the court-ordered affidavit and the final tally of the double-envelope votes also remain pending, as the party continues to grapple with the contested primary results.
4 developments
- StrongLikud spokesman: Netanyahu voted in ballot brought to him personally, amid report of forgery check
- DevelopingLikud to appeal district court ruling, cites irregularities in Bitan-linked ballot box
- DevelopingBitan demands recount in Likud elections, says he does not trust party leadership
- DevelopingMK Beliak seeks criminal probe of Likud acting director, MKs over alleged false affidavit
Source and signal
- Open-source intake