Journalist Moran Azulai reports that if the outline approved today takes effect, Katz will not need to run for his position.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reserving one of the eight reserved slots he secured on the Likud Knesset list for Haim Katz, the chairman of the Likud Central Committee, according to a report by journalist Moran Azulai. If the outline approved today takes effect, Katz will not need to run for his position.
The development follows the Likud Constitution Committee's approval earlier today (Monday, 16:50 Jerusalem) of a proposal granting Netanyahu eight personal reserved slots on the party list, along with authority to adjust electoral districts and reserved slots from positions 29 to 33. The committee's vote, reported by multiple outlets including Israel Hayom and Yediot News, came after a compromise proposal by Minister Haim Katz himself and was marked by a clash between Netanyahu and MK David Bitan, who walked out after Netanyahu told him, "You are welcome to run, let's see how many mandates you bring."
Netanyahu's initial proposal, reported earlier on Monday, offered eight reserved slots up to position 31, with party primaries scheduled for August 17. An emerging proposal later extended the national list to position 36, and the committee ultimately approved the eight slots. The current move to allocate one of those slots to Katz appears to be the first implementation of that authority.
It remains unclear how Netanyahu will allocate the remaining seven reserved slots, and whether the outline approved today will face further challenges within the party. The full implications for Likud's internal politics and the primary schedule are still developing.
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