Channel 14 Knesset reporter Avraham Hasson reports that the overnight reserved slot for Minister Israel Katz took Likud by surprise, as Katz was actively running his primary campaign until the previous day. Hasson notes that with the number of reserved slots still allocated by Prime Minister Netanyahu and the limited spots on the national list, incumbent MKs face a difficult struggle for re-election.
Channel 14 Knesset reporter Avraham Hasson reported Tuesday morning that the overnight reserved Knesset slot for Defense Minister Israel Katz “surprised everyone,” as Katz had been actively campaigning in the Likud primary until the previous day. The report adds a new dimension to the internal Likud confrontation over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s allocation of reserved slots.
The development follows Netanyahu’s late-night announcement on Tuesday at 01:17 Jerusalem, reserving list positions for ministers Israel Katz, Haim Katz, and Gideon Sa’ar. The move triggered broad internal unrest, with MK Tali Gotliv the only lawmaker to publicly attack it, though many others seethed behind the scenes. Later reports confirmed Netanyahu had expanded his quota of reserved slots to 10, citing an “exceptional security situation that cannot be detailed” in a confidential document submitted to the Likud court. Senior ministers denounced the maneuver, with one calling it “cowards hiding behind Bibi’s apron.”
The current crisis is the culmination of weeks of friction. As The Zioneer reported on June 22 and June 23, Netanyahu’s demand for 8–10 reserved slots faced fierce resistance from senior party figures who argued it would undermine the democratic primary process. Some party members even suggested an “arranging committee” as an alternative. The tension escalated to the point of Netanyahu reportedly threatening to quit Likud if his demands were not met, as The Zioneer reported on June 23.
The Likud secretariat is expected to vote on approving the reserved slots in the coming hours. With 34 ministers and MKs competing for roughly 15 realistic spots in Monday’s primary, the battle for survival on the national list is expected to intensify. It remains unclear whether additional reserved slots will be allocated.
15 developments
- StrongLikud party court to convene tonight on Haim Katz slotting; legal adviser rejects conflict claims
- DevelopingBardugo: Haim Katz's reserved slot is 'secretary-general' style; Israel Katz's slot logical amid security
- StrongLikud: Defense Minister Israel Katz will not be reserved in top five, may fall to lower list slots
- StrongNetanyahu, Katz nearing agreement on Likud reserved slots ahead of primaries
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