Drama in Likud: Party Court Halts Vote on Securing Haim Katz's Slot

The Likud party court issued an interim order halting the vote to approve securing a slot for Haim Katz, following a petition by lawyer Aviad Visoly, who alleged a conflict of interest and political quid pro quo. The court ruled that the claims warrant examination. Yesterday, the party announced its intention to approve slots for Sa'ar, Katz, and Katz as well, sparking anger among ministers and MKs who accused them of blackmail.

The Likud party court today (Tuesday) issued an interim order halting the vote to approve securing a slot for the chairman of the party's central committee, Haim Katz. The petitioner, lawyer Aviad Visoly, a member of the Likud's 'Eretz Israel Loyalists' faction, alleged a 'conflict of interest and political quid pro quo in exchange for approving the slots.' The court's decision stated that 'the petitioner's claims warrant examination.' Yesterday, the party announced that its secretariat would be asked to approve, alongside the slots for the prime minister, the placement of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and party central committee chairman Haim Katz on the Likud list. The party explained that the court ruled last week that the defense minister must be secured, Sa'ar would be placed as part of the unity agreement, and Katz due to his role as party central committee chairman. The announcement sparked anger among ministers and MKs, who claimed that the two, in their party roles, had blackmailed Netanyahu. A senior Likud official called the event a 'scandal,' and another minister said it was 'extreme disgrace, hostile takeover of the movement by hacks, delusional corruption.' Another MK added that it was 'a shame and a snatch.'