The Likud Constitution Committee convened on Sunday and voted to grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authority to determine eight slots within the first 30 spots on the party list ahead of the upcoming elections.
The committee also decided that in the event of wartime, defined as escalation on the home front, Netanyahu could appoint the members of a selection committee that would determine the party’s candidate list, instead of holding primaries.
“I support holding the primaries, but there is a possibility that we could face an exceptional security situation that would make it difficult to hold campaign events. It could coincide with election day or occur beforehand, making it difficult to conduct the vote,” the prime minister said.
Likud Central Committee members are expected to vote on the newly approved proposal on Tuesday.
Cancellation of primaries or reservation of slots for Netanyahu marks a significant shift in the party’s system for holding primaries.
For years, Likud has prided itself on conducting primaries in which its over 100,000 registered members are eligible to vote for the Knesset list.
The meeting on Sunday came after the committee approved last week’s controversial changes to the primary system that were also expected to grant Netanyahu authority to determine eight reserved slots on the party list.
The eight reserved slots were drawn from within the party’s first 31 positions on the list.
After the decision was made, the Likud Central Committee, which consists of thousands of party activists, was set to vote on the changes last week on Thursday.
Lod District Court issues injunction against Likud
However, shortly ahead of the vote, the Lod District Court issued an injunction against the changes following a petition against the party.
The renewed meeting in the Constitution Committee on Sunday was attended by Netanyahu to reconvene on changing the primary system.
Ahead of the meeting, Netanayhau met with the Likud local authority heads.
Amid the tensions, the committee also decided last week to postpone the primaries from August 8 to August 17.
The proposal to change the primaries system has drawn internal opposition from senior Likud figures, including Construction and Housing Minister Haim Katz and MK David Bitan, who have objected to the changes.
There has been fierce internal objection to canceling the Likud primaries.
Netanyahu reportedly has held several meetings with Katz ahead of the meetings, seeking to bridge disagreements over the primary system.
The first vote on the primaries had been postponed multiple times, prompting reports that Netanyahu was working to secure internal support for changing the system.
There have also been reports that Netanyahu has threatened to leave Likud if the proposed changes are not advanced.
Some of the reserved slots could reportedly go to figures such as Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and former finance minister Moshe Kahlon.
There have been objections from MKs within the party, who oppose changing the primary process, as it could cause those who would otherwise score highly in the primaries to fall further down the list.
A fierce critic of changing the system has been MK Tally Gotliv, who is viewed as a candidate who would receive broad support from registered party members.
Gotliv last week released a video claiming that Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defense Minister Israel Katz were working behind the scenes to cancel the primaries to receive a high slot from Netanyahu.
Most Israeli political parties do not hold primaries
Parties are not required to hold primaries in Israel, and only a few do so.
The Likud primaries are expected to be highly competitive. Likud currently has around 40 ministers and MKs serving in the government and Knesset, but recent polls project the party winning only about 25 seats, leaving many at risk of losing their places on the party’s Knesset list.
There have been MKs in the party who have also expressed support for changing the system so that Netanyahu could secure the slots, such as MK Amit Halevi. He has stated that it is most important to do whatever is necessary to best help the party succeed in the elections.
Democrats Party leader Yair Golan warned against changing the system of the primaries in the event of a security situation.
He stated that the change should be “a red flag tonight for every democratic Israeli citizen, because the same decision could be made just as easily regarding the general elections once he [Netanyahu] realizes he will be defeated in them.”
“I suggest that the Central Elections Committee, the Supreme Court, and the president keep a close eye on the situation,” Golan added.
The debate on how to hold the Likud primaries comes ahead of the general elections, which are set to take place on October 27.
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.