Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the security situation may lead to the cancellation of the Likud party primaries, according to reports.
During a meeting with Likud-affiliated mayors earlier today (Sunday), Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the ongoing security situation could necessitate canceling the party's primaries. According to a report by Daphna Liel (N12) published at 15:44 Jerusalem, Netanyahu proposed that if primaries are canceled, an arranging committee comprising five mayors would determine the party list. He also indicated he intends to meet Likud Central Committee chairman Haim Katz to expand the national list and place all eight reserved slots in the top 20 positions.
The initial reports from the same meeting, also published at 15:44 Jerusalem, noted only the possibility of a committee list without specifying its composition. The Zioneer's coverage has been updated to include the details of the five-mayor committee and the eight reserved slots, all sourced from the same N12 report. No additional corroboration from other outlets has been reported as of 17:02 Jerusalem.
The development is the latest in a series of internal Likud disputes over the primaries. As The Zioneer reported on June 16 at 16:05 Jerusalem, Likud members expressed anger at Netanyahu, with warnings that canceling primaries would end the party. On June 22 at 08:51 Jerusalem, Likud MK David Bitan warned that canceling primaries would destroy the party within eight years. On June 23 at 15:23 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Netanyahu threatened to quit Likud if not granted 10 reserved slots. On June 27 at 23:58 Jerusalem, senior Likud sources told the desk that Netanyahu's push to cancel primaries is driven by a need to prevent defections in a 60-60 deadlock scenario.
It remains unclear whether the security situation will actually force cancellation, and whether the proposed five-mayor committee and the allocation of eight reserved slots in the top 20 will be accepted by the party's central committee. The full details of the arranging committee's composition and the final party list are yet to be determined.
6 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu offers Likud MKs specific reserved list slots amid infighting
- DevelopingNetanyahu threatens to quit Likud unless granted 10 reserved Knesset slots
- DevelopingLikud Minister Regev: Netanyahu's demands to party will be heard, primaries to be held
- DevelopingSenior Likud figure says Netanyahu 'serious' about arranging committee, will decide in days
Source and signal
- Internal intake