Netanyahu Challenges Likud Primary Ruling as Judge’s Brother Benefits from Decision

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Likud party’s legal counsel to appeal a party court ruling that prevented sitting MPs and ministers from running in regional primary elections. The case is now set to be heard by Tel Aviv’s district court, marking a significant escalation in the bitter internal party dispute over the primary process.

The appeal comes amid revelations that the brother of one of the party judges overseeing the decision is himself a candidate in the Beer Sheva and Negev regional primary. The court’s ruling, which bars senior Likud parliamentarians from competing in these contests, has significantly improved the electoral prospects of candidates without parliamentary positions, including relatives of judicial officials.

The controversy highlights deepening tensions within Likud ahead of the primary elections. Netanyahu’s faction has argued that the restrictions unfairly disadvantage senior party members and hand an advantage to less-established candidates. The appeal to the district court represents an attempt to overturn the party court’s decision before the primary process advances further.

The case raises questions about potential conflicts of interest within the party’s judicial proceedings, given the apparent benefit to family members of those making key decisions. The district court will need to weigh the party’s internal governance rules against broader concerns about fairness and impartiality in the primary process.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.