After announcement on reserved slots - fury in Likud: 'Scandal, disgrace - PM is being blackmailed'

Massive fury in Likud following the late-night announcement of reserved slots for Haim Katz and Israel Katz. Senior party members claim the two blackmailed Prime Minister Netanyahu in exchange for approving the slots. Tali Gottlieb called the move 'disgraceful', and Netivot Mayor Yehiel Zohar attacked the decision. Likud announced it would seek to approve the reserved slots for Sa'ar, Israel Katz, and Haim Katz.

Massive fury in Likud this morning (Tuesday) following the party's late-night announcement of reserved slots also for Haim Katz and Israel Katz. While the slot for Gideon Sa'ar was closed and known, the slots for the two Katzes are drawing angry reactions from a wide range of ministers and MKs, who claim that the two, in their roles in the movement (Israel Katz as chairman of the Likud secretariat and Haim Katz as chairman of the Likud central committee), blackmailed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A senior Likud official said: 'Scandal. Israel blackmailed the PM, demanded a reserved slot and in return would approve the PM's slots.' Another minister told Walla: 'This is simply a disgrace on the highest level, a hostile takeover of the movement by hacks, delusional corruption.' Another MK said it was 'a shame and a grab.' Tali Gottlieb attacked: 'A disgraceful step,' and wrote that Israel Katz 'the man and the immunity, the man and the season, who was very afraid of the primary results and rightly so, gets a reserved slot in the Likud party.' Netivot Mayor Yehiel Zohar, considered one of the strongest people in Likud, said he supports Netanyahu's slots but a slot for Haim Katz 'does not add to the list, and he should have competed like any person in the primaries.' According to movement sources, Haim Katz feared not only that his associate Etti Atiya would not pass the primaries but also that he himself would not, so he blackmailed for a slot; Israel Katz feared he would slide back on the list and blackmailed for a slot on security grounds. The anger is also directed at the Prime Minister. One party member said: 'These are rag dolls who tremble before Likud members and hide behind the Prime Minister's apron.' In the announcement published last night by Likud, it was stated that its secretariat would be asked to approve, alongside the PM's slots, also the placement of Gideon Sa'ar, Israel Katz, and Haim Katz on the list. The movement's court ruled last week that the Defense Minister must be reserved so he can deal with security needs.