Will she run anyway? The surprising support for Hadar Muchtar and the appeal to Netanyahu
120 mayors, branch heads, and Likud central committee members asked Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Katz to shorten the mandatory membership period for Hadar Muchtar. In the letter, they claimed she submitted over 1,000 membership forms and strengthened the party's hold among youth. Opposition to her candidacy remains within the Likud.
Will she get a "lifeline"? 120 mayors, branch heads, and central committee members of the Likud party have appealed to Prime Minister and movement chairman Benjamin Netanyahu and to Minister of Defense and Likud secretariat chairman Israel Katz, requesting to shorten the mandatory membership period for Hadar Muchtar and allow her to run in the primaries for the party's list for the 26th Knesset.
In the letter, the signatories wrote that "the Likud movement has always known how to open a door for young and committed activists," and claimed that Muchtar is exactly that type of activist — young, active, and committed to field work.
According to the signatories, Muchtar's activity "contributed directly to strengthening the movement among the youth throughout the country," a public in which the Likud, according to them, needs to deepen its hold. The letter noted that Muchtar submitted over 1,000 new membership forms, conducted extensive activity online ahead of the elections for the 26th Knesset, and participated regularly in the movement's events.
The signatories added that Muchtar has proven herself in the field and that allowing her to integrate fully into the movement's activities will serve the interests of the Likud. According to them, there are "significant public reasons" that justify shortening her mandatory membership period.
Attached to the letter was a signed and verified affidavit from Muchtar, in which she declared that each of the 120 names on the list was added after giving their explicit consent. According to the affidavit, the consents were obtained via physical signature, in writing, via SMS or WhatsApp, or orally with video documentation.
The obstacles facing Hadar Muchtar
Muchtar, who previously led the "Tzeirim Boarim" ("Burning Youth") party, joined the Likud only about a year ago. In order to run in the primaries, she needs a special shortening of the mandatory membership period, a move that has sparked controversy within the movement.
One of the options available to her is to run for the "new woman" slot, whose position has slipped to the fourth ten on the list. Another option is to run for the youth slot, which might provide a more realistic spot with the addition of the Norwegian Law, but in the Likud, it is estimated that this slot might also be cancelled.
Senior party members, including MK Tali Gottlieb, have expressed opposition to Muchtar's candidacy and criticized her experience. At the same time, her candidacy is sparking confrontations and objections among field activists in the movement.
Now, Netanyahu and the Likud leadership are required to decide whether to grant the request of the 120 supporters and shorten Muchtar's mandatory membership period — or to leave in place the obstacles standing before her on the way to running in the primaries.
