Likud tribunal overturns party conference decision on controversial rivalry clause

The Likud party’s supreme court has overturned a decision made by the party conference regarding a contentious clause governing internal party elections. The ruling means that several current and former members of the Knesset, ministers and deputy ministers will be barred from competing in regional constituencies due to procedural irregularities and what the tribunal deemed constitutional violations.

The tribunal’s decision represents a significant development in internal Likud politics, with implications for the party’s electoral arrangements. The ruling specifically affects Netanyahu’s slate of candidates, eight of whom have retained their positions despite the overturned clause. The decision highlights ongoing tensions within Israel’s ruling party over how candidacy disputes should be resolved.

The case centres on what party insiders refer to as a ‘rivalry clause’ – a mechanism designed to regulate competition for certain party positions. The tribunal found that the original conference decision failed to follow proper procedural requirements and contained elements that violated party constitutional provisions. This finding effectively strips the conference decision of its legal standing within the party’s internal framework.

The ruling underscores the complex interplay between internal party governance and factional disputes within Likud. By allowing the tribunal to overturn the conference decision, the party has reinforced the authority of its judicial mechanisms over mass party gatherings, establishing an important precedent for future internal disputes.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.