Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a victory as the Likud party's Constitution Committee approved a new primary outline, setting the procedure for internal party elections, according to reports.
On Sunday evening, the Likud party's Constitution Committee approved the new primary outline, marking a victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who backed the measure. The approval, reported at 18:57 Jerusalem, caps a day of rapid committee decisions that began at 14:41 Jerusalem, when the committee approved a series of Netanyahu-backed provisions.
At 14:41 Jerusalem, the committee approved seven reserved slots for Netanyahu within the top 29 positions of the Likud candidate list, and authorized Netanyahu to appoint a sorting committee if the security situation prevents primaries. It also approved a clause allowing the cancellation of primaries in a security crisis, and then a clause allowing Netanyahu to set the sorting committee's composition. These approvals followed earlier statements by Netanyahu, who first hinted at keeping the option for a sorting committee, then said he would head one if necessary, and finally confirmed that a committee would determine the list if primaries were blocked — all reported at 14:41 Jerusalem.
The Zioneer has reported on the internal party tensions leading up to these decisions. Netanyahu initially expressed a preference for primaries but insisted on retaining the option for a sorting committee, which ultimately became the central mechanism in the approved outline. The committee's decisions effectively consolidate the prime minister's control over the candidate selection process amid ongoing security considerations.
What remains unclear is whether the security situation will actually trigger the sorting committee mechanism, or whether primaries will proceed under the new rules. The approved outline sets the procedure, but the timing and format of the internal elections depend on the security assessment in the coming weeks.
7 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu to receive 8 reserved slots on Likud list, MK Buaron says
- StrongLikud Constitution Committee to discuss reserved slots for Netanyahu on Sunday
- StrongNetanyahu demands 11 ministerial portfolios in top 40 Knesset slots
- DevelopingMinister Eli Cohen expects Netanyahu to receive 6-7 'reserved' Knesset seats in Likud primary
Source and signal
- Internal intake