Drama at the Supreme Court: The fate of Likud primaries hangs in the balance
Tension within Likud is peaking as the Supreme Court begins hearings on petitions filed by various candidates. This evening, the party will learn whether its long-running legal saga is nearing an end or if the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming primaries will continue.
Tension within Likud is peaking as the Supreme Court begins hearings on petitions filed by various candidates. This evening, the party will learn whether its long-running legal saga—which has kept many ministers, Knesset members, and district candidates awake at night—is nearing an end, or if the drama is only just beginning.
At stake is not only the court's decision, but the very viability of the primaries. Movement representative Adv. Ilan Bombach warned that any ruling issued tonight could force a two-week delay, significantly increasing the risk of the primaries being cancelled entirely due to the tight deadline for submitting candidate lists to the Central Elections Committee.
One encouraging sign that the party might still meet its schedule for next Monday is Judge Dafna Barak-Erez's decision to hold the hearing today. However, the critical factor is not the hearing itself, but the timing of the final ruling. Only once the court clarifies the procedures—specifically regarding whether MKs can run in district and sector slots—can Likud management proceed with the massive logistical operation of deploying 90 polling stations for 140,000 eligible voters.
In her order, Judge Barak-Erez stated: "In view of the request and the parties' positions, the hearing will take place today before a panel at 21:00." However, moving the hearing up does not guarantee a decision tonight. The panel may hear arguments and hold deliberations before deciding if and when to issue a ruling.
At the heart of the petition, filed by MK Afif Abd, is the question of whether incumbent Knesset members, ministers, and deputy ministers should be permitted to run in district and sector slots, or if those spots should be reserved for candidates who do not currently hold public office.
A senior Likud official noted that if a decision is not reached today, the logistical preparations—including printing ballots and hiring staff—will become impossible, jeopardizing the entire election process ahead of the September 8 deadline.
The political stakes are high. District slots were historically intended to allow new candidates to enter the Likud list via a limited geographical arena. Allowing incumbent MKs and ministers to compete for these spots significantly alters the balance of power. This issue was central to the struggle last summer when the Likud Constitution Committee approved a plan presented by Minister Haim Katz.
Previously, on July 16, the District Court in Lod issued an injunction halting a vote on these changes due to procedural concerns. While the Likud Center eventually approved the plan on July 27, the clause allowing incumbents to run in districts passed by a razor-thin margin of just six votes, providing the legal basis for the current Supreme Court challenge.
