Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking sweeping authority to shape Likud’s next Knesset slate, demanding 10 reserved places for candidates of his choosing, including four of the first eight slots after his own place at the top of the list.
The demand, described by Likud officials as unprecedented, would give Netanyahu effective control of half of the party’s top 10 places: Netanyahu would remain in the No. 1 slot, while places 2, 4, 6 and 8 would be set aside for candidates he selects. He is also seeking reserved slots at 11, 15, 18, 22 and 29.
Likud, Netanyahu’s ruling party, chooses most of its Knesset candidates through a party primary. Reserved slots allow the party leader to place candidates directly on the list, bypassing the primary vote. The higher a candidate appears on the slate, the stronger their chances of entering the Knesset after the election.
Likud sources familiar with Netanyahu’s plan say the demand would allow him to bring in outside candidates, reshape the party’s leadership ranks and push some sitting Likud lawmakers into lower, less secure positions.
The internal battle over Netanyahu’s demand is now approaching a decision point. Likud’s constitution committee, chaired by Minister Haim Katz, was scheduled to meet Thursday to set the rules for the party primary, which is expected to be held on August 4. The rules are supposed to determine how Likud members will choose the party’s Knesset list and how many places Netanyahu will be allowed to reserve.
But Netanyahu has already postponed the committee meeting twice, and on Wednesday asked to delay it for a third time.
Minister Haim Katz
(Photo: Ido Erez)
“Due to urgent constraints involving the prime minister, the honorable tribunal is asked to order an extension of the deadline for completing the proposed rules for holding primaries in Likud’s constitution committee until Sunday. The meeting of the constitution committee will be postponed accordingly to that date,” attorney Ilan Bombach, Likud’s legal adviser, wrote to the party’s internal tribunal.
Senior Likud figures claim the delays are meant to “drag things out” or “waste time” so the party ultimately cannot organize a primary for its Knesset slate. In that scenario, they say, Netanyahu could push for the list to be chosen by a smaller party committee rather than through a vote by Likud members.
“Netanyahu is creating chaos so that it becomes impossible to organize primaries, and then he gets what he wants: an arranging committee,” one senior Likud figure said.
The scope of Netanyahu’s demand has deepened the unease among Likud lawmakers. According to party sources, the plan would allow him to dominate the most secure places on the list and reduce the chances of some current members of Knesset returning after the next election.
Knesset member David Bitan, chairman of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee, petitioned Likud’s internal tribunal on Wednesday, demanding that the party set primary rules in order to prevent further delay. Bitan is also calling for a secret vote on Netanyahu’s personal reserved slots, saying members of Likud’s central committee should be able to vote freely and without pressure.
Knesset member David Bitan
(Photo: Knesset)
Bitan has said in recent days that Netanyahu’s demand for 10 personal reserved slots is undemocratic.
“Such a large number of reserved slots is effectively an arranging committee,” Bitan said.
Meanwhile, Likud sources claim Netanyahu has reached a “deal” with Katz, who serves both as chairman of Likud’s central committee and chairman of its constitution committee: a reserved slot in exchange for support for Netanyahu’s reserved slots.
Under the alleged arrangement, Netanyahu would reserve a place for Knesset member Eti Atiya, whose political patron is Katz, as part of his personal reserved slots. Likud officials estimate Atiya’s chances of being elected in a primary are low to extremely slim.
In return, the sources claim, Katz would help Netanyahu pass his reserved-slot plan in Likud’s constitution committee and in the party’s central committee. Netanyahu visited Katz’s home this week to discuss Likud’s election system. Katz is considered a key power broker in Likud institutions, with the ability to advance or block Netanyahu’s demands.
Katz’s office dismissed the claims Wednesday night.
“This is nonsense,” his office said. “Any decision that is made will be brought for approval by the party institutions.”