Likud Party Official Admits to Helping Netanyahu Sidestep Democratic Rules

A senior figure within Israel’s Likud party has revealed that he and others helped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu circumvent standard democratic procedures on multiple occasions, according to statements made by Michael Kleiner, the former Knesset member who chairs the party’s internal court. Speaking candidly about his role, Kleiner indicated that despite often being viewed as an opposition voice within the movement, he actively assisted Netanyahu’s leadership in ways that stretched constitutional boundaries.

Kleiner’s comments centre on the controversial protection afforded to former ministers Israel Katz and Chaim Katz, who were shielded from mandatory primary elections within the party. When asked about the methods used, Kleiner acknowledged: “We found all sorts of creative ways that gave a democratic veneer” to the arrangements. His language suggests a deliberate effort to make procedurally questionable decisions appear legitimate through careful framing and presentation.

When confronted with the assertion that security concerns were cynically exploited to justify bypassing internal party elections, Kleiner neither fully denied the allegation nor provided substantive clarification. “That’s not accurate,” he stated, before declining to elaborate further. His refusal to expand on the matter has only fuelled questions about what exactly transpired behind closed doors and what justifications were offered at the time.

The revelations shine a spotlight on internal power struggles within Likud and raise broader questions about party governance and democratic accountability in Israel. They suggest that mechanisms designed to ensure fair competition for positions of power—such as primary elections—have been subject to manipulation at the highest levels of the party structure, with tacit approval from those responsible for overseeing party regulations.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.