The Lod District Court temporarily blocked a planned Likud convention vote after a petition argued a competing proposal was improperly excluded. The contested package, backed by Haim Katz and supported by Benjamin Netanyahu, would give the party chairman eight reserved list slots and allow incumbents to run in district races—changes critics say would curb grassroots influence. David Bitan urged delegates to reject the plan and offered a narrower alternative. The party must now set a new date for the vote; if approved, primaries could proceed on August 17 under the new rules.
Court Blocks Likud Convention Vote Over Contested Primary Rules
People stand at polling station during the Likud party internal elections, which were halted following a court order, at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, July 16, 2026. (photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)
The Lod District Court issued a temporary injunction on Thursday, halting a planned Likud convention vote after it accepted a petition from the Social Forum affiliated with the National Labor Federation. The vote had been scheduled to start at noon and was intended to set new rules for selecting the party's candidate list ahead of elections for the 26th Knesset.
Why the Court Intervened
The Social Forum argued that the Likud administration ignored a party-court decision by excluding the forum's proposed election rules from the delegates' ballot. That proposal aimed to ensure broader participation, including accessibility measures for members with disabilities. The court’s temporary order prevents the party from holding the vote unless the forum’s proposal is also presented to delegates, consistent with a Supreme Court precedent. The petition was filed by attorney Eric Twito.
What Was At Stake
At the heart of the dispute was a package of election rules approved by the Likud Constitution Committee, chaired by Haim Katz and supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The package would give the party chairman eight reserved list slots — positions 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 26 and 31 — six of which would fall inside the top 20. Critics say those reserved positions, combined with other changes, would reduce the impact of the nationwide primary and push many primary winners down the final list.
Major Proposed Changes
- Eight reserved positions for the party chairman at specific slots on the nationwide list.
- Redistribution of district slots and guaranteed representation for women, young people, immigrants and other groups.
- Permission for ministers, deputy ministers and incumbent MKs to run in district contests — a step that would pit incumbents against longtime local activists.
Responses Inside the Party
David Bitan publicly urged delegates to reject the package, calling it an arrangement driven by Katz and pressed on the prime minister. Bitan proposed a narrower alternative that would reserve fewer high-ranking slots for the chairman (slots 2, 6 and 16 plus two lower slots at 39 and 48), preserve regular primaries, and keep district slots as an avenue for new candidates.
A view of a polling station during the Likud party internal elections, which were halted following a court order, at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, July 16, 2026. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)
"Anyone who loves the Likud and protects democracy in the movement is voting today against the proposals at the convention," Bitan said in a video message.
Supporters argue the reserved slots would give the chairman flexibility to refresh the list, recruit electoral talent and facilitate political alliances. Names such as Gideon Sa'ar have been mentioned as potential beneficiaries. Many ministers and MKs uncomfortable with Bitan’s position have avoided publicly confronting Netanyahu, but privately expressed concern that reserved slots will push other candidates downward.
Convention Logistics And Next Steps
The fifth Likud convention had been expected to convene roughly 4,500 delegates with polling stations open from noon to 8 p.m. at 17 sites across Israel; delegates could vote at any location and ballots were secret. Following the court order, Likud officials announced the vote would not take place. Likud legal adviser Ilan Bombach had requested a postponement because of legal delays, and party officials convened internal legal sessions to discuss options.
If the package is approved in a future vote, the primaries are expected to take place on August 17 under the new rules. If rejected, party leaders would face a rapid effort to negotiate an alternative, with Bitan likely pushing for his more limited plan. One possible compromise under discussion would keep the chairman’s reserved slots while barring incumbent MKs from contesting district races.
Political Implications
Approval would strengthen Netanyahu and Katz and signal their control over convention outcomes. Rejection would be a political victory for Bitan, district activists, and lawmakers worried about the dilution of grassroots influence, showing that party institutions will not automatically rubber-stamp leadership proposals.
Official Likud Response: "Likud chairman Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that all Likud members be able to exercise their right to vote. In light of the fact that legal delays disrupted the voting process, and many Likud members did not exercise their right to vote, Likud chairman Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the Likud administration not to hold the vote today and to set a date in the near future for a new vote."
Help us improve.
